Coke is one of the most recognized brands around the globe. Along with that recognition comes responsibility, says Lisa Manley, director of environmental communications for the Coca-Cola Company, based in Atlanta. “Having a global presence escalates the expectations that we will play an active role in environmental stewardship,” she says. “We’ve been looking to align the expectations of how our company can and should engage in an environmental perspective with ways that make sense for our business.”
The company is involved in initiatives around the world in areas including water conservation and stewardship, packaging, and climate protection. Each year, Coca-Cola also releases an environmental report, available on its Web site. The 2006 report is due this summer.
But for all the good Coca-Cola is doing, there are entities that take issue with its strategies—and the company has been cited for several environmental violations, most recently in India.
So what does Coca-Cola do that’s environmentally friendly—and not so friendly?
Water.
One of its biggest action areas involves the key ingredient in its products: water. On June 5, 2007, Coca-Cola announced a $20 million, multi-year partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to replace the water Coca-Cola uses in its beverages and production. E. Neville Isdell, Chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, said the project focuses on three areas: 1) reducing the water used in production, 2) recycling water used for manufacturing and 3) replenishing water in communities and nature.
As part of the partnership, Coca-Cola also will work with WWF to help conserve seven freshwater river basins, support more efficient water management in Coca-Cola operations and its global supply chain, and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions Coca-Cola produces.
Coca-Cola executives “hit upon this idea that … if we stretch a little bit in terms of thinking and commitment, we can continue to have enough water for all of us into the foreseeable future,” Manley explains. “If given the right amount of global attention within our operation, we have the ability to return the water we use.”
And Coca-Cola uses a lot of water. In 2006, the company and its franchised bottlers used approximately 290 billion liters of water—approximately 114 billion liters in its products and 176 billion liters in manufacturing.
