Coca-Cola to launch breakthrough PlantBottle™ packaging by 2013

Other breakthrough initiatives are coming your way as Coca-cola system unveils ‘Live Positively’ platform which accelerates sustainability commitments in Singapore.

Coca-Cola Singapore has launched a comprehensive effort to integrate sustainability into all aspects of its business. Called “Live Positively”, the initiative is part of a global programme that commits the Coca-Cola system in Singapore to multiple initiatives that make a positive difference in the world by incorporating sustainability into everything we do, said Mr. Antonio Del Rosario, General Manager of Coca-Cola Singapore at a launch event today.

“Live Positively is a way for us to think holistically about sustainability efforts throughout the Coca-Cola system and in all the areas where our business intersects with society. Through Live Positively we are committed to ensuring sustainability across seven key pillars: Beverage Benefits, Active Healthy Living, Sustainable Packaging, Water Stewardship, Energy Management and Climate Protection, Community and Workplace ” added Mr. Del Rosario.

Some of the new commitments are as follows:

1. Beverage Benefits – The Company will provide more than 15 new product innovations between now and 2015 in a series of innovations to meet the evolving lifestyles and refreshment needs of Singaporean consumers. In a Singapore beverage industry first, Coca-Cola Singapore also committed to placing energy information not just on the nutrition panel of its products as is required by law, but additionally, on the front panel of all its beverages by 2012, in a move designed to help consumers more easily see the specific amount of energy in Kcal of each serving.

2. Active, Healthy living – Coca-Cola Singapore announced its support for Exercise is Medicine, a global initiative by the American College of Sports Medicine that aims to make physical activity and exercise a standard part of the health treatment paradigm. Exercise is Medicine builds on Coca-Cola Singapore’s existing support for grassroots physical activity programmes such as Step with IT, Singapore! which is expected to reach an additional 250,000 students by 2015.

3. Sustainable Packaging – Coca-Cola Singapore is committed to rolling out by 2013 in Singapore its innovative PlatBottle™ packaging. This breakthrough packaging has revolutionized the beverage industry as the first ever recyclable PET plastic beverage bottle made from up to 30% plant material. In addition, Coca-Cola Singapore’s efforts to lightweight its bottles and cans are saving 100 tonnes of plastic and 104 tonnes of aluminum annually.

4. Water – The Coca-Cola system is committed to advancing its water sustainability efforts in Singapore. Since 2004, it has improved its water use efficiency in its Singapore bottling plant by 13% and is aiming for a 7% improvement in 2012 to bring the total to 20% by 2012. The water savings in the bottling plant in 2012 alone is targeted to be 95,000 m3 (95,000,000 litres), the equivalent of roughly 38 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

5. Energy efficiency and climate protection – The Coca-Cola system is committed to a series of efforts to minimize its energy footprint. Since 2004, Coca-Cola Singapore has reduced the amount of energy used in its manufacturing processes by 41%, and aims to decrease it by a further 9% by 2015, to achieve a total of 50% reduction in its energy use. In addition, Coca-Cola Singapore said 100% of all new Coca-Cola propriety coolers deployed in the marketplace will reduce energy consumption through intelligent energy management devices that monitor energy use and deliver energy savings of up to 35 %. The Company also said it would be piloting the use of biodiesel in its fleet of trucks in Singapore as well as encouraging a variety of fuel observing driving techniques.

6. Community – A newly announced partnership with the Singapore Red Cross sees Coca-Cola Singapore committing to carrying out 4 blood drives annually with therir employees and the public, helping to increase opportunities for Singaporeans to donate blood.

7. Workplace – As a system, Coca-Cola employs about 1000 people in Singapore and supports the Singapore Workplace Safety and Health Act. The Company is also a signatory to the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices in Singapore.