Coca Cola is invented in May 1886 by Doctor John Pemberton known as Doc, a pharmacist from Atlanta, Georgia. The name of Coca Cola is suggested by Frank Robinson, a bookkeeper and he first scripted “Coca Cola” into the flowing letters, which becomes the famous logo of today. The soft drink is first sold to the public at the soda fountain, in Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta on May 8, 1886.
Until 1960s, the carbonated beverages at the local soda fountain are enjoyed by both small town and big city dwellers in the city. On April 23, 1985, “New Coke” formula is released as the trade secret. Today, products of the Coca Cola Company are consumed at the rate of more than one billion drinks per day.
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. The company is recognized as the world’s most valuable brand. The company markets four of the world’s top five nonalcoholic sparkling brands. Consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1.4 billion servings each day through the world's largest beverage distribution system.
Corporate Social Responsibility Efforts
In the West, corporate social responsibility is a catchphrase in the meeting room but difficult to understand in China. In multinational companies, China is more important and generates revenue. The country steps up on their social responsibility efforts. This is the desire to create positive brand recognition and to counteract in the environmental concerns in Chinese manufacturer. According to Richard Welford, chairperson and founder of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Asia, during a recent corporate social responsibility summit in Beijing, says that, multinational companies must be seen in the action with the right stuff applied in its strategies and the enthusiasm to make a positive contribution.
Right Choice
Despite the uncertainty, large multinationals see the value in recognition to the application of the right stuff. One percent of the entire cost in operation goes to CSR, along with other companies in China, as an industry standard. The monetary value is sizable though the percentage is small. One of the largest multinational companies in China, which is Coca Cola, dictates an operating cost of one percent for CSR work in 2011. This means that the company spends nearly 102 million dollars or 79 million Euros through the Coca Cola Foundation globally.
Sustainability
Aurora Chen, director of sustainability for Coca-Cola in China, says that, the government, Non Government Organizations (NGOs) exerts most of the effort in terms of its sustainability, and the businesses play the support role. Together with full force creates great impact that alone cannot achieve.
Over 120 years, since its origin in Atlanta, Coca Cola becomes the most recognized nonalcoholic beverage brand in the entire universe. There are various brands in other local or international manufacturers but Coca Cola always reigns. In China, Coca Cola ramps up its sustainability efforts and pledges to do more.
In Shanghai, China, the Coca Cola headquarters, committed to charitable program. About 30 million US dollars and more cover community and environmental projects. From 2004 to 2009, water efficiency improved to 35 percent and this year the company is committed to 100 percent suitable for marine life. Coca Cola China invested about 4.5 million US dollars to improve its operation in water recycling and equipment purification.
The accumulation of all plastic bottles that now reaches to 1.3 billion, the company pledges to improve packaging efficiency that includes the weight reduction of its bottle. Through its reduction, it reduces the emissions of carbon over 16,000 tons if there is an annual disposal of bottles in billion capacity.
Imagine a Better World
The vision of Coca Cola Company; a world where all people have access to safe water, where packaging has a life beyond its original use, and where communities are healthy and prosperous. Together with the other bottler company, Coca Cola is committed to a lifelong and a positive distinction in the world. Continually innovates to keep the products with reasonable price and makes the business more economically and environmentally advantageous to the public as a whole. The company believes that the investment in economic, social, and environmental growth helps the business develop. A sustainable economy promotes a healthy living supported by responsible businesses in China’s dynamic marketplace. It provide refreshing beverages to the customers, career opportunities to the associates, contributions to the local market, and throughout the value chain.
References
Knowledge Warton, 2010. Business Ethics. [online] Coca-Cola on the Yangtze: A Corporate Campaign for Clean Water in China. Available at: < http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/10000women/article.cfm?articleid=6188>[Accessed 27 August 2013]
The History of Coca Cola, 2013. Invention of Coca Cola. [online] Available at < http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/spring08/Cantwell/invention.html> [Accessed at 27 August 2013]
Kaye, L., 2010. Triple Pundit. [online] Coca Cola Pushes Sustainability in China. Available at: < http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/08/coca-cola-pushes-sustainability-in-china/> [Accessed at 27 August 2013]
Balazovic, T., 2012. China Daily Europe. [online] China Steps Up its Corporate Social Responsibility Efforts. Available at: < http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2012-10/15/content_15818490.htm> [Accessed at 27 August 2013]
