Starbucks’ incoming CEO, Brian Niccol, is facing environmental criticisms following the company’s offer for him to commute from his home in Newport Beach, Calif., to its headquarters in Seattle via a private jet instead of relocating. The company’s offer letter to Niccol read: “During your employment with the company, you will not be required to relocate to the company’s headquarters. You agree to commute from your residence to the company’s headquarters (and engage in other business travel) as is required to perform your duties and responsibilities.” Niccol will be expected to work from Starbucks’ Seattle office at least 3 days a week in line with the company’s hybrid work policies. Starbucks will also offer Niccol, who was the former CEO of Chipotle, a small remote office in Newport Beach, as well as an assistant of his choosing for the office. Of course, all of that will be paid for by the company. Following reports of Niccol’s super commute, people were quick to point out the apparent hypocrisy in the use of private jets in the context of the company’s sustainability efforts, including its ban on plastic straws. Commenters took to social media, with one writing: "Absolutely wild that it cost $85 million in cash/stock to pry this guy from Chipotle and then they’ll just let him trash the environment to commute 1,000 miles 3 times a week on a corporate jet instead of having him move to the Pacific Northwest.” According to a report released by Oxfam last year, the carbon footprint of the top 1%, including their use of private jets and superyachts, is 77 times higher than the average Joe, and private jets are 14 times more polluting than commercial planes. So far, neither Starbucks nor Niccol have responded to the criticism.
