Starbucks criticised for 'wasting water'

Global coffee chain Starbucks has been slammed for wasting water after it came to light that taps at each outlet have to remain on all day.

Following an investigation by a British newspaper, it emerged that each shop uses a dipper well, which receives a constant supply of running water from taps.

This method, the firm says, helps keep utensils hygienic and stops the growth of bacteria.

"The average dipping well in a Starbucks wasted 300,000 litres of water a year and that's an incredible amount," said Victoria Higgins of Waterwise.

"We think they could quite easily adopt new procedures or technologies that could reduce this water wastage significantly," she furthered.

It has been claimed that the chain's policy equates to the wasting of 23.4 million litres of water a day worldwide.

Starbucks has closed many of the outlets it deems to be unprofitable across the US this year.