Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (HBC), leading bottler of brands of Coca-Cola Company, has committed to implementing a water and energy reduction programme in its Nigerian plants as part of its efforts to cut carbon emissions globally.
The water and carbon emission reduction commitment is coming on the heels of the global endorsement of Coca-Cola HBC’s approach to sustainability which was adjudged as the best in beverage industry for the second consecutive year by the Dow Jones World and Europe Sustainability Indices (DJSI)
Coca-Cola HBC was also ranked eighth out of the top 100 companies listed on the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE 100) Index for its carbon reporting by Carbon Clear and ranked first within the beverage sector.
Coca Cola HBC has made a commitment to reduce water and direct carbon emissions intensity by 30 percent and 50 percent respectively by 2020.
Sade Morgan, Acting Head of Public Affairs and Communications, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, said: “Our new commitments reflect our company’s position as the driving force of sustainability within the beverage industry.”
“Here in Nigeria, we will be contributing to meeting these targets by implementing water and energy reduction programmes in all our plants. Our partnerships with stakeholders in Nigeria have been fundamental to our achievements so far and will continue to be instrumental in meeting our new commitments,” she said further.
Importantly, this is the eighth year that the company has been included in the DJSI, the global benchmark for corporate sustainability due to its rigorous assessment process and its focus on best-in-class companies.
Of the 2,500 companies across different industries that participated in the DJSI assessment worldwide, Coca-Cola HBC AG was ranked best in beverage industry with a total score of 87/100, which was 34 points higher than the industry average. The Group was ranked industry best in eight criteria which include code of business conduct/compliance/anti-corruption, environmental policy, packaging, raw materials sourcing, human capital development, health and nutrition, social reporting and talent attraction and retention.
Coca-Cola HBC’s sustainability programme in Nigeria endorses NBC’s leading role in the collection and recovery of post-consumer packaging materials as part of its extended producer responsibility as all its production locations also maintain waste water treatment to local and international regulatory standards.
