Every day is earth day for the non-alcoholic beverage industry. Leading the way on sustainable solutions has long been at the core of our business. We take environmental stewardship seriously because it helps two bottom lines: the Earth’s, and our own.
As we mark Earth Day 2017 on Saturday, let’s take a look at the top five ways our member companies are working to reduce their carbon footprint:
• Recycling: We are working to eliminate waste to landfills from our manufacturing and production facilities in the USA. Currently, we recycle or reuse 94 percent of the waste generated.
• Water: We are decreasing water usage—and will increase water conservation by double-digit percentages over the next decade.
• Energy: We are increasing efficiencies while decreasing the carbon footprint of our products.
• Fuel Efficiency: We are improving fuel efficiency and will increase miles per gallon by more than 10 percent by the end of the decade.
• Packaging: We are reducing the raw materials used in PET plastic and aluminum packaging through lightweighting, redesign, and use of post-consumer recycled materials.
Here in Ohio, beverage companies take the added step of working with community partners to help advance environmental initiatives, as well. A few recent examples include:
• Residential Recycling Cart Program - Coca-Cola is a supporter of the Recycling Partnership, a public-private partnership focused on increasing curbside recycling initiatives. The cart program, which launched in Athens in November, involves the City of Athens, Rural Action, and The Recycling Partnership. It will help educate residents and raise awareness about the importance of curbside recycling and the benefits of the carts.
• Dr. Pepper Snapple Group / Keep America Beautiful Park Recycling Bin Grant Program – Forty-one of these grants were recently awarded nationwide, including two right here in Ohio: Keep Jefferson Belmont Beautiful / JB Green Team and Keep Reynoldsburg Beautiful. These grants will provide 914 recycling bins to public parks across the country.
• Keep Columbus Beautiful “Pick it Up” Challenge – For the past three years, Keep Columbus Beautiful and the Coca-Cola Columbus Syrup Plant have partnered for this challenge. In 2016, 16 different city summer camps held at recreation centers across Columbus competed in the challenge. The winning center, Holton, collected 27 bags of litter and five bags of recycling.
• The Wilds – G&J Pepsi’s partnership with The Wilds dates back to 1994. The Wilds’ mission of conservation struck a chord with company officials. The G&J team members share their gifts of time and creative talent to help The Wilds bolster its marketing efforts, generate greater awareness, drive attendance and revenues, and ultimately continue its mission to advance conservation through science, education and personal experience.
To learn more about our industry’s leadership on environmental sustainability, visit InnovationNaturally.org. To learn more about our OSDA members’ community outreach, visit our news page.
Source for Earth Day statistics: http://www.ameribev.org/education-resources/blog/post/setting-ambitious-goals-to-protect-the-environment/