Sustainability Trends in European Retail Report

Monday, September 21, 2009

LONDON, 21 September 2009:  A new report by Forum for the Future, sponsored by Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) Europe, spells out the importance of sustainability to current operational success and future direction of the sector.

The report, entitled " Sustainability Trends in European Retail" highlights the need for close collaboration with brand providers to help improve sustainability through the supply chain as well as driving consumer demand for more sustainable products.  

As a manufacturer and provider of branded products, CCE Europe sponsored the report as part of its ongoing programme to align its own sustainability strategy with the needs and direction of its retail customers.

The report highlights the top sustainability priorities for retailers across Europe today:

• Carbon reduction is increasingly a key priority for retailers;
• Retailers are concerned about the risk to global agricultural output from the effects of climatic changes;
• Packaging is a key issue for consumers - reducing waste and improving recycling are still high on the agenda;
• Information provision remains key to the health and wellbeing debate;
• Refrigeration is becoming a clear focus area.

CCE recognises the key areas to progress, and is keen to share with its customers the understanding and practices it has already developed - for instance in collaboration with The Carbon Trust, CCE recently calculated the carbon footprint of a number of its products including diet Coke and Coke Zero in Great Britain, and now shares this information at: http://www.cokecorporateresponsibility.co.uk/carbontrust/index.html

In addition CCE has partnered with WRAP (Waste and Recycling Action Plan) in GB to roll out a series of high footfall, high profile on-the-go Recycling Zones across Britain by 2011 to encourage consumers to recycle more frequently.  More than twenty zones have been launched and there is more information at: http://www.recycle-zone.co.uk/

Ian Deste, CCE Vice President for Sales & Customer Development in Great Britain said: "This research offers a valuable insight into the sustainability agendas of grocery retailers. At CCE we're building our track record in improving sustainability all the time.

"We're working closely with our customers every day, and we'll be looking for new opportunities to share our experience in this area with them. We want to identify ways we can work together to achieve even more across the supply chain."

Dr Sally Uren, Deputy Chief Executive, Forum for the Future says, "Our research clearly illustrates that the retail sector is divided into leaders and contributors on sustainability issues in Europe. The fact that Coca-Cola Enterprises has already taken action on many of the key issues shows it is well placed as a manufacturer to lead its customer base and to help the rest of the sector to build a more sustainable supply chain for the future."

Notes to editors

Contact information
For further information and comment, please contact Kate Ward or Emma Mercer at 3 Monkeys Communications at cocacolaenterprises@3-monkeys.co.uk / 020 7009 3131.

Or Alex Johnson, Media and Publications Officer, Forum for the Future on a.johnson@forumforthefuture.org / 020 7324 3624

About the report
The report was compiled following detailed interviews with many of Europe's leading retailers including Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury's, Shell, TOTAL, Morrisons, Metro and Subway. Download a copy of the full report here: www.forumforthefuture.org/projects/sustainability-trends-in-european-retail

About Coca-Cola Enterprises
Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd is a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc, the world's largest marketer, producer and distributor of the products of The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC).  Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd manufactures and distributes TCCC products, as well as products for other brand-owners, throughout England, Scotland and Wales, and employs around 4,600 people.

Coca-Cola Enterprises is committed to minimising the environmental impact of its products and operations. It is particularly focused on sustainable packaging, water stewardship, and energy and climate protection, and has made good progress in these areas, although there is still more to be done. For example in Great Britain, energy use across manufacturing operations has been reduced by 16% since 2001; packaging has also been reduced - the iconic glass Coke bottle is now 20% lighter; the amount of water used per litre of product has been cut by 21% since 2001; and 90% of waste at sites is now recovered or recycled.

About Forum for the Future
Forum for the Future - the not-for-profit sustainable development organisation - works in partnership with more than 120 leading companies and public sector bodies, helping them devise more sustainable strategies and deliver these in the form of new products and services. www.forumforthefuture.org