AUSTRALIA – Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has announced that it is on track to source 60 per cent of its energy from low-carbon and renewable by next year, as part of its push to improve manufacturing sustainability.

According to the company’s 2018 Sustainability Report, it currently sources the equivalent of 56.2 per cent of its energy from low-carbon or renewables, principally wind, solar and natural gas.

To achieve an ambitious goal to do business while preserving the environment, CCA said it is exploring further expansion of solar energy.

It has entered into a long-term power purchase agreement with Victoria’s Murra Warra Wind Farm near Horsham to secure supply of renewable energy at competitive prices and rates.

The company said it is rolling out more renewable energy with new solar panels at its facilities in Eastern Creek, Richlands and Kewdale in Australia, and Cibitung in Indonesia.

“Bottling is energy-intensive, so our shift to low-carbon and renewables is a significant change,” said Group Managing Director Alison Watkins.

“We’ve focused on natural gas, solar and wind, but we’re open to other technologies and will look at how these can be incorporated in our operations.

“We’re keen to support sustainability but renewables also have to make commercial sense.

“That’s why we’re pleased that the bulk of our low-carbon and renewable energy was sourced at a market competitive price versus traditional power.”

Other recent Coca-Cola Amatil sustainability outcomes include:

• 100 per cent of bottles and cans are recyclable or reusable, including all popular ranges such as Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Barista Bros, Mount Franklin and Pump;

• From next year, all plastic bottles 600ml and under to be made from 100 per cent recycled materials

• Removal of all plastic drinking straws and stirrers, replaced with biodegradable paper straws;

• Support for cost-effective, well-run container deposit schemes

• 100% of Australian packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable;

• 70% of plastic packaging to be recycled or composted;

• 30% average recycled content to be included across all packaging;

• Problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging to be phased out through design, innovation or introduction of alternatives.

The company also announced that it has switched to 100% sustainably accredited sugar in Australia.