One of the most recognized brands in the world, new NERC Advisory Member The Coca-Cola Company provides more than 200 brands worldwide – from Coca-Cola to smartwater – while employing more than 700,000 people in the company and its associated bottling plants.
Of course, with such a towering global presence comes great responsibilities, and The Coca-Cola Company emphasizes its commitments to sustainability in its Business and Sustainability Report. The company’s commitments encompass the gamut of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, up to and including measuring its progress according to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among the company’s many sustainability commitments is its World Without Waste initiative, launched in 2018. The company envisions a future where all plastic bottles and aluminum cans are continuously recycled in a circular ecosystem and is focused on three primary goals:
- To collect and recycle the equivalent of a bottle or can for every one the company sells by 2030
- To make 100% of packaging recyclable by 2025
- To use 50% recycled material in bottles and cans by 2030
Just last month, The Coca-Cola Company announced in the United States the introduction of a new 13.2 oz bottle made from 100% recycled plastic material (rPET), rolling out first in bottles from its biggest and most iconic brand: Coca-Cola®. The company also announced the transition to bottles made from 100% recycled plastic material across a selection of brands in the portfolio, including DASANI and smartwater available in various package sizes this year.
The company views these moves as a substantial step in addressing plastic waste, reducing the company’s use of new plastic by more than 20% across the portfolio compared to 2018.
“As we strive to reach our circular economy goals, we see NERC as a critical partner and convener of those who want to move the dialogue on packaging sustainability and recycling challenges forward,” said Lauren Craig, Director of Public Affairs & Communications for The Coca-Cola Company.
The company is also part of the “Every Bottle Back” initiative, through which America’s leading beverage companies have partnered with NERC Advisory Member The Recycling Partnership, Closed Loop Partners and World Wildlife Fund in the U.S., creating a $100 million fund to reclaim more plastic bottles so they can be remade into new bottles.
Other important environmental commitments made by The Coca-Cola Company include the promise to return 100% of the water the company uses to make its drinks. The company continuously regenerates more water than it uses annually. Coca-Cola also reports that it is well on its way to meeting goals for reducing its carbon footprint.
NERC welcomes the opportunity to partner with such an influential Advisory Member, and looks forward to collaborating on issues that will better protect the environment for generations to come.