Coca-Cola's Carbon Footprints Unveiled

On the same day as the Walt Disney Company pledged to reduce its CO2 emission output, a subsidiary of another US giant, Coca-Cola, released details of its contribution to climate change.

The drinks manufacturer now stands as the largest worldwide brand yet to have supplied carbon footprint information into the public domain – information relating to the gases created during the production, packaging, transportation, refrigeration and disposal processes associated with Coca-Cola products.

The data - gathered through a collaboration between Coca-Cola Great Britain and the Carbon Trust – is specific to the UK market, and highlights how the carbon footprint linked to a single, standard-sized (330 millilitres) can of Coca-Cola is 170 grams and those of Coke Zero and Diet Coke, 150 grams. A 330 ml glass bottle of Coca-Cola, meanwhile, has a carbon footprint nearly twice as high – 360 grams.

According to the Carbon Trust’s Chief Executive, Tom Delay, the issue of this data highlights the prevalence of carbon in the consumer market at large.

"Coca-Cola was one of the first companies to sign up for carbon footprinting with the Carbon Trust as part of its ongoing commitment to reducing its carbon impact, and it has made an important contribution to our work to create the product carbon footprinting standard”, he said.

“Coca-Cola's help in streamlining the process and sharing international insights was critical.

"The announcement is important as it will help bring home to consumers that carbon is everywhere - in all we consume. When we launched the idea around the carbon footprinting of products it was always our aim to have major brands, like Coca-Cola, using the process as a means to further reduce the carbon in their supply chains.

“We are delighted they are committed to doing just that."

Recycle Zones

Recycling already forms a large part of Coca-Cola Great Britain’s strategies, with recycled materials making up approximately half of those used in aluminium cans, and 40 per cent of the glass used to make bottles.

What’s more, a collection of dedicated Recycle Zones is now being unveiled at locations across the UK, in tandem with WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme).

Coca-Cola Packaging

The Coca-Cola data also drew attention to how the packaging side of things impacted most on the carbon footprint, being responsible for up to 70 per cent of it in some instances.

It highlighted, though, how incorporating recycled materials could reduce this substantially.