Environmental agreement signed with Coca-Cola NI

In this Prosperity Agreement with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), Coca-Cola HBC commits to reduce their carbon emissions by up to 15% by 2019.

As part of their commitment to reducing the impact of their business on the environment, Coca-Cola HBC will implement a number of sustainability initiatives, including light weighting bottles, installing LED lighting, integrating energy saving mode to existing machinery and investigating the potential use of harvesting rain water.

Over the next three years Coca-Cola HBC, a franchised bottler for The Coca Cola Company based in Lisburn, will reduce their carbon emissions by 10-15 per cent, the equivalent of approximately 350 cars off the road.

The company will also decrease water usage by five per cent, equating to around 11 Olympic sized swimming pools and improve energy consumption by 10-15 per cent, equivalent to somewhere in the region of 37 million kettles boiled.

The Environment Minister said: “This is a win-win. This commitment to reduce emissions and waste and improve energy consumption is good for the environment and good for business.

“My department will now work in partnership with Coca-Cola HBC to put together an action plan to unlock economic opportunities and bring about environmental benefits through business innovation.

“Working together the aim is to tackle environmental and economic problems facing the soft drinks sector in the North.

“Through their Corporate Social Responsibility Programme, Coca- Cola HBC will also promote environmental stewardship with their employees, business partners and the local community.

Frank O’Donnell, General Manager Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: “This Prosperity Agreement is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the environment and a reflection of our leadership position in the area of sustainability.”