We believe that a better future is possible for everyone. We believe in the importance of acting sustainably and responsibly throughout our value chain. We are aware of the challenges we face and the role we must and want to assume as a benchmark in the food and beverage industry. Through “Going Forward”, our global sustainability strategy for Western Europe, we reinforce our commitment to business, people and the planet directly through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and prioritize six of them to guide our actions: beverages, packaging, society, water, climate and supply chain. At the moment, We already have projects and commitments that respond to 14 of the 17 UN-recommended SDGs.
What are the main objectives achieved within «Avanzamos»?
We have taken important steps in each of our fields of activity. In beverages, we managed to reduce the amount of sugar per liter of Coca-Cola beverages by 23.9%. Actually, 63% of sales volume in Spain during 2020 came from low-calorie or no-calorie beveragesIt goes far beyond its commitment that 50% will come from these beverages.
Inside We continue our commitment to contribute to the circular economy in packaging. Almost 100% of the containers currently used are recyclable or reusable and measures are being taken to reduce, recover and reuse them.
Likewise, we made progress on one of our most ambitious projects in Spain. waste collection on seabed coasts, Raising public awareness and promoting the circular economy: Circular Seas, it manages to collect more than 1,500 tons of waste in recent years.
Inside With regard to water, we are committed to promoting the sustainable management of this resource throughout our value chain. Since 2010, we have reduced the water consumption used in production processes by 16.67%. This is very close to a commitment to reduce water consumption by 20% by 2025.
Inside climate, we’re moving towards zero emissions, It is based on reducing the absolute value of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2019 and achieving zero net carbon emissions across our value chain by 2040.
Finally, when it comes to the supply chain, We bet that 100% of the main agro ingredients and raw materials come from sustainable sources. Therefore, 100% of our suppliers have complied with the Code of Conduct for Suppliers. Likewise, 100% of Coca-Cola Iberia’s suppliers and 92% of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners’ suppliers adhere to the Guiding Principles for suppliers.
in coke we have also made progress in our commitments to societyboth with our employees and in our communities, as well as in our aid programs (GIRA Jovenes and GIRA Mujeres) to improve the education of young people and women.
Packaging is a crucial building block for you and is included in this sustainability strategy, but how does a company like Coca-Cola deal with the volume of waste it generates?
That’s what we believe at Coca-Cola All the containers and materials that make them up have a function and provide benefits.and therefore, packaging waste, if properly managed, can become a valuable resource for reuse or recycling. To achieve this, we need more efficient waste collection systems, more use of recycled and recyclable materials, and more efficient recycling processes. In this sense, we are ready to act now and to do our part. We set very ambitious goals for our business, starting with collecting, andto recycle 100% equivalent of the bottles or cans we put on the market, It doesn’t matter where they come from.
It’s part of our global strategy “A World Without Waste” and “we are moving forward» Our sustainability strategy in Europe, aiming to use an average of 50% recycled material in our bottles and cans in 2023 (2022 in the case of Spain), and accelerate and promote the use of 100% by 2025. Spain, today, 99.7% of our packaging is recyclable or reusable and we will continue to do so in the future.anyone. We’re also designing increasingly lighter packaging with more recycled materials. and using fewer resources from renewable sources. Among other developments, with the “Circular Seas” project, we succeeded in producing the first food-grade bottle with recycled plastic material recovered from marine environments.
Coca-Cola launched its Climate Action Plan at the end of 2020 to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. How will you carry out this ambitious challenge?
The Climate Action Plan is a scientifically validated plan by the Science-Based Target Initiative and demonstrates our commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2040. We have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 44.8% across our value chain over the past decade. We are now focused on reducing these even further, from sourcing the ingredients and packaging used to the beverages produced, addressing these five areas: packaging, ingredients, operations, transport and refrigeration equipment. In this sense, our target is to reach zero by 2040 and reduce our absolute GHG emissions by 30% by 2030 (compared to 2020) across our value chain.
Let’s talk about Coca-Cola’s impact on the Valencian Community. How does it contribute to the region and how does it relate to it?
Coca-Cola’s commitment to the Valencian Community reflected in its contribution to its territory. In this sense, Coca-Cola adds 619 million Euros to the Group, It represents 0.5% of GDP in the region among the direct and indirect activities of its suppliers and customers. Similarly, in terms of employment, Coca-Cola operations create more than 10,600 jobs in the Valencian Community. Of these, 547 are direct and correspond to the employees of the factory in Quart de Poblet, as well as those working in the warehouse and the employees of the four trade delegations, and the remaining amount is what Coca-Cola produces at the factory. sector between Horeca and food and local suppliers. It also has 334 local suppliers.
Beyond economic aspects or job creation, Coke shows a strong commitment to sustainability. In this area, Coca-Cola has participated in environmental projects joining the Valencian Community to return more than 100% of the water it uses to nature, such as the Sustainable Citrus Project or the collaboration at Tancat de la Pipa de la Albufera de Valencia. . Likewise, Coca-Cola has Mares Circulares, a project to clean coasts, aquatic environments and seabeds, raise awareness about recycling, and promote education and the circular economy.
This week we celebrate World Oceans Day and the Mares Circulares project is a good example of sustainability. What role does it play in your strategy?
our project Circular Seas It is a reflection of our commitment to the preservation of the natural environment, natural resources, ecosystems and biodiversity.. In this way, we collaborate to clean up waste from beaches, protected areas and seabeds. We also work to raise citizens’ awareness of the importance of recycling, and each year we support three scientific studies and one business initiative that addresses the problem of marine pollution.
This program is part of Coca-Cola’s global commitment to a “Waste Free World”, which includes collecting the equivalent of 100% of cans and bottles sold, betting on innovation in sustainable packaging, and promoting a culture of reuse and recycling. Coca-Cola goes one step further in its efforts to contribute to protecting the planet, and by committing to collect and recycle the equivalent of 100% of the packaging it sells.
What figures did you get in the latest editions of the Mares Circulares project in the Community of Valencia?
Especially in the Valencian Community, More than 3,000 volunteers have participated in the last four editions and collected more than 577,000 kg of waste from 10 beaches, 2 Marine Reserves and 3 Conservation Areas. Likewise, approximately 1,400 people took part in the initiative’s training and awareness activities and took part in a total of 150 collaborative projects, including NGOs, organizations and organisations.
Another of your great projects is Hospitality #PorElClima. How was it born and what impact does it have on the Valencian Community?
In 2017 we launched Hospitality #PorElClima, an initiative framed on the #ComunidadPorElClima platformFrom ECODES, We are committed to transfer the Paris Agreement commitments to the accommodation sector.. For this reason, Hospitality #PorElClima is a virtual platform created to bring together accommodation businesses that have decided to stay committed to the environment, environment and society and reduce their carbon footprints.
In this sense, we presented it to you in March. echoesand in cooperation Alicante Town Hall, Alicante Provincial Association of Hospitality Entrepreneurs, most Alicante Restaurant Association, George Olcina Professor at the University of Alicante. more recycling, For Alicante #Climate.
This initiative framed within the hospitality platform #PorElClimaPromotes sustainability and action to combat climate change in the hospitality industry through the implementation of actions that enable them to become more sustainable areas, reduce their environmental footprints and thus contribute to curbing climate change. Thanks to this project, we were able to include 169 Alicante institutions on the platform. At the national level, there are more than 2,000 organizations affiliated with Hospitality #PorElClima.