Coca-Cola Reveals Sustainability Report
By Sam Lewis
“Me, We, World” are the guiding principles of beverage company’s long-term goals
Coca-Cola released its tenth annual sustainability and third annual Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reports on Thursday, Nov 7. These reports detail the progress and achievements the Atlanta-based soft-drink giant has made in 2012, along with 2020’s new sustainability goals announced in early 2013 — a first for the company. It is also the first report to update current sustainability goals. Guided by Coca-Cola’s sustainability structure — “Me, We, World” — the framework follows three guiding priorities of leadership: the global empowerment of women, the conservation of water, and the well-being of the growing global population.
Women
The company aims to empower 5 million women entrepreneurs by 2020 through its 5by20 program. “This initiative aims to help women entrepreneurs, from fruit farmers to artisans, overcome the barriers they face to succeed in business,” the report reads. Coca-Cola also states it has already enabled 300,000 women in 22 countries before 2012’s end. This is more than double the number the program had reached in all of 2011.
Water
Coca-Cola has improved its water efficiency by more than 21 percent since 2004. In addition, the company supported an estimated replenishment of 52 percent of the water it used in its finished beverage products through 2012. The company also announced progress in its partnership with DEKA Research and Development, which promises to deliver 500 million liters of safe drinking water to communities in 20 countries. This will be powered by Slingshot water purification units along with EKCOCENTER kiosks before 2016. “Our comprehensive 2020 goals are ambitious, but we are making tangible progress. The collective expertise of our partners motivates and enables us to do more than we could alone,” says Bea Perez, Chief Sustainability Officer Coca-Cola.
Well-being
The company is now offering more than 800 low- or no-calorie beverage options — almost one in four of its products — worldwide as part of its commitment to addressing obesity. This is highlighted by 2012’s addition of more than 500 new products, 100 of which are are low- or no-calorie options. Additionally, Coca-Cola began nearly 300 active healthy living programs in 118 countries throughout 2012.
Also updated in the report is the progress of the Coca-Cola Foundation — the philanthropic part of the company. In 2012, the company gave 1 percent of its income ($101.6 million) in grants supporting community initiatives, including delivering medicine to communities in need through Project Last Mile. Coca-Cola’s CEO, Muhtar Kent puts the entire effort in a nutshell, “At Coca-Cola, sustainability is a critical. It is about improving lives, creating jobs, increasing opportunity, preserving resources and meeting needs for the communities we proudly serve around the globe,” Kent says. He continues, “There are no issues that will more shape or define the 21st century than the global empowerment of women; the management of the world's precious water resources; and the well-being of the world's growing population.”
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