This Friday (25 April), campaigners from Animal Justice Project (AJP), will protest outside Starbucks UK’s London headquarters to demand a sustainable shift from the global coffee giant. The campaign is backed by businesswoman, former model, and long-time animal rights activist Heather Mills.
The action is part of AJP’s ‘Udderly Kind’ campaign, launched following an explosive undercover investigation into a major Arla dairy, Starbucks’ sole UK milk supplier. The footage sparked national concern, and now over 11,000 people have signed a petition calling on Starbucks to make plant-based milk the default in all UK locations.
To mark the petition hand-in, campaigners will stage a visual photo stunt and deliver the signatures in a box labelled:
“Starbucks UK: 11K people want oat milk as the default milk.”
AJP campaigner Sean Barrs, from Cambridge, says:
“Starbucks took a welcome step forward in 2022 by scrapping the plant milk surcharge. Now it’s time to take the next one: making oat milk the default option nationwide.”
Despite repeated requests for a meeting, Starbucks has yet to engage with campaigners. AJP will again formally request dialogue with senior management during Friday’s demonstration.
The event coincides with new YouGov polling commissioned by AJP, which shows that nearly one-third of Brits would accept oat milk as the default in coffee shops. Local supporters will join the peaceful demonstration, speaking with passersby about the realities of dairy farming and how switching to plant milks can align with ethical and environmental values.
Why This Matters:
In March, AJP released an investigation into Lowfields Farm, an Arla-contracted mega-dairy in North Yorkshire. Footage captured violent abuse, including cows beaten with ropes, pliers and pipes, and one cow goaded 40 times to force her onto a slaughter lorry.
The video received national attention, with coverage in the BBC News, Independent, Daily Mail, and over 25 other media outlets. A subsequent on-site protest on April 5 featured on Greatest Hits Radio and BBC North Yorkshire.
Despite temporarily suspending Lowfields, Arla has now renewed its contract. Arla remains Starbucks UK’s exclusive dairy milk supplier.
AJP says this demonstrates the urgent need for Starbucks to reconsider its sourcing and switch to a more ethical, sustainable default.
“Oat milk is better for the planet, kinder to animals, and already embraced by so many customers,” said Barrs. “If Starbucks is serious about sustainability, making oat milk the default is a simple, impactful step they can take right now.”
Starbucks’ Response:
A Starbucks spokesperson said:
“Please be assured that when it comes to the food and dairy we serve, social responsibility standards and animal welfare are a primary focus for Starbucks. We are grateful to you for raising the concerns outlined in your investigation.”
They added:
“Starbucks is proud to serve a range of dairy alternatives in the UK, and all Starbucks beverages can be made with dairy alternatives at no extra cost. We also offer a number of beverages made with oat milk by default and continue to innovate new products that make the most of dairy alternatives.”
Public Misconceptions on Dairy Exposed:
AJP’s YouGov survey revealed widespread gaps in public awareness:
– 52% did not know dairy cows are impregnated annually to produce milk.
– 83% were unaware calves are separated from mothers within 24 hours.
– 82% did not know dairy cows are slaughtered at 5–7 years old, despite a natural lifespan of up to 30 years.
– Still, 32% of Brits support having oat milk as the default in cafés.
About the Campaign:
The campaign urges Starbucks to lead on sustainability (and meet its own sustainability goals) by making oat milk the default—reducing emissions, water use, and animal suffering. Backed by over 11,000 supporters, including public figures like Heather Mills, the campaign calls for real, systemic change.
Heather Mills said:
“I wholeheartedly support Animal Justice Project in calling on Starbucks in the UK, and any other country, to make oat milk their default option. This simple yet impactful change would not only deliver significant environmental benefits but also send a powerful message about the importance of extending compassion to all living beings.”
