Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverage’s Bidadi Plant attains carbon neutrality 

INDIA – Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverage Pvt Ltd (HCCB), the bottling arm of Coca-Cola in India, has announced the achievement of a significant milestone with its bottling plant in the Bidadi Industrial Area, Ramanagara, Karnataka, officially certified as carbon neutral.

This distinction positions it as the first Coca-Cola bottling facility in India and the Southwest Asia region to attain such recognition, meeting the stringent international standard PAS 2060.

The certification, set to be formally issued in May 2024 by globally recognized registrar and classification society DNV, marks a vital step in HCCB’s sustainability journey.

HCCB’s achievement aligns with its ambitious goal of reaching Net Zero by 2050 and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its value chain by 25% by 2030.

The company emphasizes prioritizing emissions reduction throughout its value chain before investing in verified carbon offset projects.

Since 2020, the Bidadi plant has demonstrated remarkable progress in reducing its carbon footprint, with over 90% of its power said to be from renewable energy.

To address residual emissions, HCCB plans to invest in Gold Standard certified carbon credits projects in India, reinforcing its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2024.

Alok Sharma, Executive Director of Supply Chain at HCCB, expressed pride and optimism about achieving carbon neutrality in the Bidadi plant. He emphasized that this accomplishment not only sets a major milestone for HCCB but also establishes new benchmarks for the industry.

According to Sharma, this achievement serves as a tangible demonstration of HCCB’s commitment to a sustainable future.

HCCB’s commitment extends beyond carbon neutrality to various environmental initiatives, including water replenishment projects, support for nature-based solutions, efforts to enhance biodiversity, and promoting regenerative agriculture practices in collaboration with local suppliers and farmers.

The Coca-Cola Company, committed in 2021 to a 25% absolute reduction in carbon emissions from its 2015 baseline and achieving Net Zero GHG emissions by 2050 globally across its operations.

HCCB’s carbon neutrality achievement reflects the company’s dedication to environmental responsibility and sustainability, setting a precedent for the industry in India and the Southwest Asia region.

Recently, the Coca-Cola company announced plans to trial label-free packaging for its Sprite and Sprite Zero on-the-go bottles in an innovative move aimed at curbing plastic waste in the UK.

The pilot initiative, scheduled to run between January and March 2024, will see labels removed from single 500ml bottles, featuring instead an embossed logo on the front. Laser-engraved product and nutritional information will be located on the back of the bottles.

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