Coca-Cola Enterprises to recover 100% of packaging by 2020

The group, which is the world’s biggest bottler of Coca-Cola products, outlined the measures as part of its ‘Commitment 2020′ that was set out in its corporate responsibility and sustainability report this week.

CCE distributed around 42bn bottles and cans in 2008 and has said it will aim to reduce the impact of its packaging by maximising the use of renewable, reusable and recyclable packs.

It also said it would aim to recycle and recover the equivalent of 100% of the packaging it produces itself by 2020. In the short term, it has set a target to recover more than 200,000 tonnes of packaging materials in 2010; in 2008, it achieved 125,000 tonnes.

Other key environmental measures for the company include reducing its overall carbon footprint by 15% by 2020 and minimisation of water use.

News of the targets comes after a series of environmental initiatives from Coca-Cola, including lightweighting the body of its cans, using recycled PET from Closed Loop Recycling in its bottles, and championing on-the-go recycling by opening a number of recycling zones.

CCE chairman and chief executive officer John Brock said in a statement: “Even during difficult economic times, our commitment to CRS has never been stronger, and our quantifiable Commitment 2020 goals demonstrate the progress we are making on our journey.

“We have been recognized as a CRS leader in the global Coca-Cola system, and by embedding CRS into every aspect of our business, we are working to meet or exceed the expectations of our retail customers and consumers.”

CCE’s UK office was not available for comment this morning.

Click here to download the full report

Coca-Cola Enterprises’ ‘Commitment 2020′ Goals

Energy conservation/climate change Reduce the overall carbon footprint of our business operations by 15 percent by 2020, as compared to our 2007 baseline

Water stewardship Establish a water-sustainable operation in which we minimize our water use and have a water-neutral impact on the local communities in which we operate, by safely returning the amount of water equivalent to what we use in our beverages and their production to these local communities

Sustainable packaging/recycling Reduce the impact of our packaging; maximize our use of renewable, reusable, and recyclable resources; and recover the equivalent of 100 percent of our packaging

Product portfolio/well-being Provide refreshing beverages for every lifestyle and occasion, while helping consumers make informed beverage choices

Diverse and inclusive culture Create a culture where diversity is valued, every employee is a respected member of the team, and our workforce is a reflection of the communities in which we operate

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