Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd (CCE) works tirelessly to conduct business in ways that both protect and preserve the natural environment, and is increasingly integrating these environmental considerations into its day-to-day business practices.
In the most recent packaging innovation, CCE has made aluminium drinks cans five per cent lighter, saving supplies of one the world’s rarest resources, and delivering major improvements to the carbon footprint of canned drinks across Europe.
A new report published today by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) finds the new can design will save 15,000 tonnes of aluminium across the EU each year. That’s saving approximately 78,000 tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent to taking nearly 25,000 cars off the road every year.
The new can specification has set a new standard across the EU with other major beverage brands and brewers starting to use the lighter can. 6.5bn light-weighted cans have already been produced and distributed. Next year across Europe over 15bn cans will be produced using the new can design.
Last June, CCE began production of a new lightweight 500ml PET bottle in Great Britain, which will reduce the amount of PET packaging used by over 700 tonnes annually. The 24g bottle has now replaced the ‘Coca-Cola’ 26g bottle for brands including ‘Coca-Cola’, ‘diet Coke’, ‘Coke Zero’, ‘Fanta’, ‘Sprite’ and ‘Lilt’.
As part of its on-going commitment to packaging reductions, the company has also shed weight from the iconic 330ml bottle by 20% from 263g to 210g. In order to maintain its world-famous curves, the bottle is 0.1mm wider and around 13mm shorter than the original. All new glass bottles of 330ml ‘Coca-Cola’, ‘diet Coke’ and ‘Coca-Cola Zero’ will now be made in the lighter format.
Kenny Chisholm, Trade Communications Manager at Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd comments: “Our continued programme is part of the Coca-Cola System’s corporate responsibility and sustainability strategy in Great Britain and we will continue to lead the way in cutting carbon emissions.”
“At Coca-Cola, we are working extremely hard to minimise the environmental impact of our products and operations. To do this, we are integrating principles of environmental stewardship and sustainable development in the day-to-day running of the business.
“We already have a good understanding of the carbon footprint of our manufacturing operations in Great Britain, and working with the Carbon Trust means we can do more to understand the overall footprint of our individual products.
“This will be a complex task requiring a detailed analysis of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions across the product lifecycle and will identify cost effective opportunities to reduce emissions generated across our supply chain.”
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