COCA-COLA’S CARBON FOOTPRINT

Some people are so prejudiced. Especially when it comes to big corporations. In G20 week, the motives of world business are under greater scrutiny than ever.

The more I look, however … and I look a lot, the more I find that most market leaders have been working diligently behind the scenes for years to take the right actions. The people who work there are no different to you and me.

So, I was reassured when Coca-Cola recently published the carbon footprints of its main brands in Britain.

First, it undertook a complete life cycle analysis, including:

• ingredients
• packaging
• manufacturing
• distribution
• storage and refrigeration
• consumer use and disposal.

Second, it provided actual figures per pack:

CO2e emissions	Pack in litres	Grams per pack	Grams per litre
Coca-Cola	Glass 0.33	360	1091
Coca-Cola	Can 0.33	170	515
Diet Coke/Coke Zero	Can 0.33	150	454
Coca-Cola	PET 0.5	240	480
Coca-Cola	PET 2.0	500	250
Diet Coke/Coke Zero	PET 2.0	400	200
Oasis	Glass 0.375	340	907
Oasis	PET 0.5	240	480

Notably, packaging accounted for between 30% and 70% of the total. Recycling a 33cl Coca-Cola can would reduce its footprint by 41% to 100 grams.

Third, it showed how far it has already moved to reduce emissions:

• 50% recycled content in aluminium cans
• 40% recycled glass in glass bottles
• 25% recycled PET in PET across Europe in 2010.

Fourth, it gave access to much more detail, which is to be found at cokecorporateresponsibility.co.uk

This seems an intelligent example for others to follow. If you would like assistance for your own company’s calculation and improvement, Zenith has a dedicated Sustainability Consulting team that would be delighted to help.