Coca Cola: Innovating to improve productivity and protect the environment

The problem of plastic waste pollution has been going on for a long time and needed a solution. Coca-Cola has stood out and found its own solution and came up with creative and very practical ideas. The company has introduced many measures to improve and apply management systems to improve production capacity while still protecting the environment.

Application of management system

For the management system, the company aims to apply ISO 14001 to all its factories around the world. Mr. Gary Brewster – Sustainable Development Director of Coca-Cola Hellenic said: “For us, the initial step of implementing ISO 14001 is a revolution. We must implement a structured system that identifies environmental responsibilities related to a centralized approach, mandatory rules, management review, training and required requirements. response. Another benefit when we apply ISO 14001 is the trust of our partners who understand the value of this management system.”

Since applying ISO 14001, the environmental improvements that the company has achieved are impressive. In order to ensure a sustainable use of water, each bottling plant conducts a water risk assessment and as a result, the amount of “source” water decreases while production increases. By the end of 2010, up to 99% of wastewater would be treated.

Initiatives and improvements

Coca Cola has invented an alternative to plastic wrap outside its products in Europe and replaced it with paperboard trays – this new solution is called Keelclip and was first used in Non-alcoholic beverage products. This is the result of a research collaboration between Coca-Cola and its bottling partner Coca-Cola HBC and Coca-Cola European partners.

With the use of keelclip, Coca-Cola aims to completely eliminate the plastic casing on its products sold to Europe by the end of 2021. The company is optimistic that its idea will help reduce 2000 tons of plastic. and 3000 tons of C0₂ annually.

Innovation is an important factor in the sustainable development of the packaging field and other related applications. Keelclip is a hole-shaped paperboard for storing beverage cans, which is reusable unlike disposable plastic covers that are harmful to the environment.

On the other hand, the company’s energy efficiency initiatives, including its commitment to building 20 thermal and electricity generation units at the plant, have improved energy efficiency by 23%. Along with that, by 2015, CO₂ emissions are expected to reduce by 25% compared to 2004. The electricity cost of the plant also significantly reduced.

Prodcutivity and Quality Office