Coca-Cola Enterprises sets the standard for carbon reduction

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) has achieved the Carbon Trust Standard with the highest score for carbon performance in the carbon reduction assessment's history, demonstrating outstanding results from the company's ongoing commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

CCE is also the first major soft drinks manufacturer to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard, which recognises the achievements of carbon-efficient companies.  675 companies have been certified by the Standard since its launch in 2008. 

Following a rigorous 12-week assessment process, CCE achieved a score of 95 per cent for carbon performance, which is the highest score ever awarded by the Carbon Trust Standard.

The assessment examined the standard of carbon management across CCE's European operations, including the accuracy of the company's measurement techniques. The Carbon Trust assessors also visited manufacturing plants at Clamart in France and Edmonton in GB to examine CCE's carbon management practices.

As well as achieving the Standard across its own operations, CCE has committed to reducing the carbon footprint of the drink in your hand by one-third by the year 2020 (compared with 2007 levels). To achieve this aggressive goal, CCE is looking beyond its own operations at the entire value chain of its products and procedures. For example, the company knows that chilling its products has a significant impact on its carbon levels, so by 2014, CCE aims to reduce this by an average of 35%. The company also plans to source 35% of its manufacturing energy from renewable or low-carbon sources by 2020.

Simon Baldry, Managing Director of CCE in Great Britain, said:

"Coca-Cola Enterprises is determined to grow more and to use less, and we are very proud to achieve the highest carbon performance score ever awarded by the Carbon Trust Standard. This is a tremendous milestone that demonstrates our commitment to operate as a low carbon, zero waste business, but we know we have much more to do on our journey. We are confident that we can continue to reduce carbon emissions across our own business operations and our entire value chain."   

Harry Morrison, General Manager, the Carbon Trust Standard Company, said:

"We congratulate Coca-Cola Enterprises on their certification. There is little doubt that the business leaders who have sound carbon management strategies in place stand to prosper both now and in the future. We are delighted to see Coca-Cola Enterprises achieving the Standard with the highest ever score for carbon performance; we look forward to seeing the continued success of their carbon reduction strategy."

As part of its carbon reduction programme in GB, CCE has:

• Set a 'carbon allowance' for the business which is tracked monthly
• Reduced energy use in manufacturing by installing sophisticated energy monitoring systems which have helped reduce energy use to 84.2kWh per 1,000 litres of product, an 11.25 per cent reduction since 2007
• Invested £1.75m in a fleet of 14 biomethane heavy goods trucks which can generate carbon savings of around 65 per cent compared to conventional diesel-run vehicles.  CCE is the first business to trial a biogas heavy goods truck in the UK logistics sector
• Optimised the efficiency of its logistics network: minimising partially filled lorry loads (reducing road miles) and developing backhauling with arrangements customers and suppliers so empty vehicles are used on return journeys to collect or move product.  During 2010, 8,916 deliveries, equaling 597,534kms (1.4 per cent of the company's mileage travelled) used customer or supplier vehicles which would otherwise have been empty
• Invested in making coolers and vending machines more energy efficient: in 2010, the company fitted approximately 30,000 coolers with an energy management system, saving up to 35 per cent in energy use; installed long-life LED lighting in 23,000 machines, making them 80 per cent more efficient than fluorescent lighting; and fitted more than 2,200 open-fronted coolers with doors to conserve energy
• Traced the carbon footprint of its most popular products from the ingredients at the start of the supply chain to package disposal at the end, focusing reduction efforts on the most effective areas
• Investedin various renewable projects: Employees at the company's Sidcup plant are using water from an existing borehole to provide more energy efficient cooling water for manufacturing equipment. This saves more than 1,600 tonnes of carbon emissions and approximately £186,000 in costs annually

For more information about CCE's sustainability commitments, please visit www.ccesustainabilityplan.com .

Notes to editors

Contact

Coca-Cola Enterprises Press Office

t: +44 (0)1895 844 828

About Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd

Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc. is one of the world's largest independent Coca-Cola bottlers.  CCE is the sole licensed bottler for products of The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) in Belgium, continental France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.  In Great Britain (GB) Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd (CCE) employs around 4,500 people across England, Scotland and Wales at manufacturing sites, regional offices and depots. CCE is committed to minimising the environmental impact of its products and operations, with a particular focus on sustainable packaging and recycling, water stewardship, and energy and climate protection. For further information please visit www.cokecce.co.uk.

About the Carbon Trust Standard

• The Carbon Trust Standard is an objective benchmark against which to assess an organisation's commitment and success in addressing its climate change impact.  The Standard specifies requirements in three key areas:

1. Carbon footprint measurement
2. Carbon management
3. Carbon reduction performance

• Over 600 organisations have achieved the Carbon Trust Standard since it was launched in June 2008.  Collectively, the 600+ Carbon Trust Standard certified organisations have cut their emissions by over 3.6m tonnes of CO2e.  And have also cut their gas, electricity and fuel bills by over £165m. 
• To date, the total carbon footprint certified by the Carbon Trust Standard is over 43 million tonnes of CO2e; equivalent to nearly 18% of the total carbon footprint of UK businesses and transport. 
• All businesses and organisations, both in the UK and internationally, are eligible to apply for the Carbon Trust Standard including FTSEs, mid caps, SMEs and public sector organisations. Organisations that are awarded the Carbon Trust Standard hold it for a two year period and to maintain the certification they must reapply and demonstrate that they have continued to make year-on-year reductions in their carbon emissions.
• Organisations wanting information about getting the Carbon Trust Standard can call: 0800 019 1443 or visit www.carbontruststandard.com. Organisations that are certified with the Carbon Trust Standard are listed at www.carbontruststandard.com/pages/current-standard-bearers

For further information or interviews on the Carbon Trust Standard, please contact Oliver Stewart on 020 7592 1200 or carbontrust@brands2life.com

About the Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust is a not-for-profit company with the mission to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy, providing specialist support to business and the public sector to help cut carbon emissions, save energy and commercialise low carbon technologies.  By stimulating low carbon action we contribute to key UK goals of lower carbon emissions, the development of low carbon businesses, increased energy security and associated jobs.

We help to cut carbon emissions now by

Providing specialist advice and finance to help organisations cut carbon

Setting standards for carbon reduction

We reduce potential future carbon emissions by

• Opening markets for low carbon technologies

Leading industry collaborations to commercialise technologies