Michael James
Lagos — The Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, CCHBC, has announced its commitment to achieving net zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2040.
The commitment, which recently launched across 28 markets by the leading bottlers of the Coca-Cola brands, represents a bold response to the global concerns around climate emergency and its threats to the future of the planet.
The company aims to achieve this target through the adoption of several initiatives, including the investment of €250 million in emissions reduction initiatives by 2025; switching to 100% renewable electricity and low carbon energy sources; accelerating efforts towards low carbon packaging by increasing rPET use and adopting package-less and refillable options and removing plastics in secondary packaging.
The company also plans to provide energy-efficient and eco-friendly coolers to customers, reduce emissions from agricultural ingredients and implement a “Green Fleet” programme to switch to low and no carbon alternatives
Commenting on the initiative, Zoran Bogdanovic, CEO of Coca-Cola HBC, said, “This commitment is the ultimate destination of a journey that we started many years ago. It is fully aligned with our philosophy to support the socio-economic development of our communities and to make a more positive environmental impact. Both are integral to our future growth. Although we don’t yet have all the answers, our plan, track record and partnership approach give us confidence that we will deliver”.
Also commenting on behalf of one of the company’s partners, Markus Pfanner, Vice President, Sustainability Tetra Pak, said: “As Tetra Pak also has a net zero target and SBTi approved 1.5o aligned 2030 targets, we look forward to working with Coca-Cola HBC to reduce GHG emissions and together achieve our joint aims.”
In Nigeria, the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) is playing its role to accelerate efforts towards reaching this target through several interventions.
The company commenced the transition of four of its manufacturing plants in Maiduguri, Kano, Asejire and Abuja, to renewable energy sources through the installation of solar power infrastructure. These efforts deliver up to 2,650 KWP to the facilities, and the expansion phase will even deliver more carbon footprint reduction.
Furthermore, NBC has completed the installation of Combined Heat and Power Plants (CHP) at four of its manufacturing plants which has resulted in significant reduction of its carbon footprint across the country. With the CHPs, heat emission that would have been lost is effectively channeled back into powering boilers at the plants.
As an innovative leader in water stewardship, the company has also ensured that all its manufacturing facilities have effluent treatment plants which ensure that wastewater released from operations are safe for plant and animal life. As a confirmation, all NBC plants have received the prestigious Alliance for Water Stewardship certification, the highest global benchmark for responsible water stewardship.
Speaking on the company’s interventions so far, the Managing Director at NBC, Mathieu Seguin, said, “Climate change is a global emergency that requires deliberate, proactive and coordinated efforts to be mitigated. We have seen its impact on agriculture and food production, rising sea levels, declining biodiversity, and the threat to coastal communities. We are passionate about leading efforts that strengthen the sustainability of the environment while supporting the socio-economic development of our communities. These priorities are integral to our future growth and central to our values as an organization.””
Through an existing, approved science-based target, the CCHBC is aiming at a 25% reduction in its value chain emissions by 2030 and a further 50% reduction the following decade. To address the 90% of emissions resulting from third party actions, the company is broadening existing partnership approach with suppliers whilst also investing in other climate protection measures wherever emissions cannot be eliminated entirely.
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