According to the 2022 Dow Jones Sustainability Index, one of the world's foremost measures of business sustainability, Coca-Cola HBC has been recognized as one of the world's most sustainable beverage companies. The company, which also operates in Slovenia, increased its score by six points compared to last year, achieving a record-high of 93 out of 100. For the 12th consecutive year, Coca-Cola HBC ranks among the top three best-performing beverage companies globally and has been named an industry leader for the sixth time.
Chief Executive Officer Zoran Bogdanović stated, "Our goal is to ensure a more sustainable future while continuing to create value for our stakeholders. This year's ranking in the DJSI shows that we are on the right path and serves as further recognition of the dedication and hard work of everyone at Coca-Cola HBC to make sustainability a core focus of our business. Last year, I announced our ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2040. I firmly believe that if we continue our efforts, we will reach this target."
The performance against the Dow Jones Sustainability Index is consistent with Coca-Cola HBC's independent assessments and performance as measured by other recognised sustainability research and indices, including MSCI ESG, CDP, FTSE4Good and FTSE Russell ESG.
Notes
Coca-Cola HBC's key sustainability achievements*:
- Reduced the amount of water used in product manufacturing by two billion liters since 2011, and improved the water use ratio by 9% since 2017 at 19 priority sites.
- Cut absolute carbon emissions in direct operations by over 800,000 tonnes since 2017.
- Procured over 98% of goods and raw materials from local suppliers in the markets where the company operates, worth €3.5 billion.
- Issued the first corporate green bond in September 2022.
- Each job in the Coca-Cola system supports an average of 10 additional jobs;
- Trained 753,000 young people in 28 countries since launching its Youth Empowered (#YouthEmpowered) program in 2017, with a goal to train 1 million by 2025.
- Published the Tax Transparency Policy and Report for the second consecutive year.
- Achieved 39% female representation in senior management positions, with a goal of 50% by 2025.
- Ensured PET bottles for the company's products contain at least 35% recycled plastic at the group level and 50% in EU countries and Switzerland by 2025. Switzerland has been using 100% recycled plastic (rPET) bottles for its entire range of locally manufactured beverages since 2022, while Italy** and Austria are expected to start bottling their beverage ranges in locally produced 100% recycled PET bottles in 2023.
- The KeelClip carton innovation has eliminated plastic wrap on can multipacks in 22 countries, cutting plastic film usage by 2,000 tonnes per year.
- To meet rPET targets, the company invested in its own rPET production capacity, including the Gaglianico plant in Italy, which produces PET preforms with a carbon footprint up to 70% lower compared to virgin plastic. Similar rPET production technology has been introduced in plants in Poland and Romania, with a total investment in these technologies amounting to over €50 million.
*The achievements refer to 2021, unless otherwise stated.
**Except water.
About NetZeroby40
In October 2021, Coca-Cola HBC committed to achieving net zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2040. The company has developed a comprehensive action plan and will invest €250 million in emission reduction initiatives by 2025. Through their approved, science-based targets, they aim to reduce their value chain emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 by 25% by 2030 and by an additional 50% over the following decade. To address the 90% of Scope 3 emissions that come from third-party activities, the company will strengthen its partnership approach with suppliers. For emissions that cannot be entirely eliminated, Coca-Cola HBC plans to mitigate them through investments in other climate protection measures.
