Coca-Cola Enterprises is the largest manufacturer of soft drinks in the world. As a result, it sits on the 13th position in the 2016 Global 100 list of companies. Its operations affect the entire spectrum of sustainability from economic, social, and environmental. Its impact on the sustainability dimensions is further raised by the expansive nature of its operations. Its operations cover expansive business processes that include the supply chain, logistics, as well as waste management among others. As a result, the company inherently has a large carbon footprint.
It was in recognition of this fact that the company took a proactive approach in ensuring that there is sustainability in the food and beverage manufacturing industry. Coca-Cola Enterprises collaborated with the Cranfield University in Britain to develop a roadmap for its sustainable manufacturing approach (Coca-Cola Enterprises, 2015).
In its approach, Coca-Cola Enterprises understood that it needs to go beyond minimizing their own impact on the environment. Resource security, circular economy, sustainable technologies and waste management are also covered. This is as a result of the fact that there are extensive operations outside of the company’s domain operations. As a result, its approach covers its suppliers, franchises, customers, and the communities in which it operates in at large.
There are five pillars of Coca-Cola’s sustainable manufacturing roadmap. These pillars are anticipating the future, providing nutrition, sharing the benefits, and joining forces. These pillars are aimed at ensuring there is sustainability in areas that Coca-Cola Enterprises has a high carbon footprint. These areas include water and energy consumption as well as packaging.
With regard to energy consumption, the company conducted an audit and came to the conclusion that chilling of its products contributed to a high carbon footprint. As a result, one of its sustainability goals was to reduce the amount of chilling for its products. As of 2014, Coca-Cola Enterprises had reduced chilling of its products by 35%. The company’s target is to ensure that by 2020, 60% of its products will not be undergoing the chilling process (Coca-Cola Enterprises, 2015).
The company has also committed to ensuring that by 2020, 35% of its total manufacturing energy is sourced from renewable energy sources. To achieve this, the company has mandated its suppliers to measure their carbon footprint following which they form partnerships with the company of how to reduce the same.
In the audit process, packaging of its products was also identified as a major contributor to the company’s footprint. In Coca-Cola Enterprise’s operations in Britain, the company had to build a new PET plastic packaging manufacturing facility (Coca-Cola Enterprises, 2015). The new facility produces high-quality recycled plastics (rPET). Investments in the plant created a potential for the company to produce fully recyclable plastics for packaging of its products.
The PET bottles produced in the facility over and above being fully recyclable are also made partially from plants. It reduces overreliance on the use of petrochemicals which have a higher carbon footprint when compared to plants. The company has thus set a target of all its rPET bottles beings produced using this technology as of 2020.
Water consumption is also a major sustainability concern for Coca-Cola Enterprises. At its Clamort facility in France, the company invested in a new water flow management system that saw the company saving on 50% of its water consumption (approximately 36, 750 m3). The Clamort facility handles 80% of Coca-Cola Enterprise’s returnable glass bottles. The company has also engaged communities and authorities in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the U.S in order to promote conservation within and around water sources.
The ability to achieve high levels of recycling for the company has better outcomes not just in terms of environmental sustainability but also for the company’s financial bottom line. Reduction in water consumption, investment in water conservation, and an increase in energy sourced from renewable energy help to endear the company to consumers. This is because consumers are becoming more conscious of sustainability efforts by the company. As a result, it translates to improved sales and consequently profits.
References
Coca-Cola Enterprises (2015). Our sustainability plan overview. The Coca-Cola Company
