Coca-Cola Urges UK To Recycle More And Cut Their Carbon Footprints

New above the line campaign aims to boost recycling levels

First city centre Recycle Zone launches in Southampton

Coca-Cola Great Britain is today launching a new advertising campaign aimed at getting the UK to recycle more. The 'Keep it Going. Recycle' campaign encourages consumers to enjoy a Coke and recycle the empty packaging. By recycling their can or bottle consumers could reduce the carbon footprint of their Coca-Cola by up to 40% and make a major difference to the environment*.

The campaign was created as a result of research undertaken by Coca-Cola in partnership with the Carbon Trust which showed that packaging accounts for the largest proportion of a drink's carbon footprint.   The research highlighted the major role that increasing recycling levels and using more recycled material in bottles and cans can play in reducing Coca-Cola's impact on the environment.

Despite the difficult economic conditions, consumers continue to be concerned about green issues, especially recycling. In addition to encouraging consumers to recycle Coca-Cola is also working to make it as easy as possible for people to recycle more often and especially when they are away from home.  The company is currently investing in a nationwide scheme to create 'Recycle Zones'.  Zones are already up and running in busy places such as Thorpe Park and Manchester Airport.   The latest addition to this scheme is Southampton, the first city centre Recycle Zone in the UK.

The 'Keep it Going. Recycle' ad campaign and the 'Recycle Zones' are just a couple of steps on Coca-Cola's journey to help consumers do more to help the environment. By boosting consumer recycling levels Coca-Cola will also be increasing the supply of local recyclate and subsequently be more able to increase the amount of recycled content in its bottles and cans and reduce its carbon footprint further.  Coca-Cola is also designing packaging that uses more recycled material and less material overall.  Coke's aluminium cans for example now contain around 50% recycled content, weigh 5% less, with the  can wall being the same thickness as a human hair.

Sanjay Guha, President of Coca-Cola GB, said: "We're committed to reducing out impact on the environment, but we know we have to encourage our consumers to do so as well.  We believe this new campaign shows that commitment. Following our work with the Carbon Trust, we looked at how best to reduce the carbon footprints of our products. We believe that increasing recycling levels is one of the most effective steps we can take in achieving our overall goal of operating in a responsible way. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do - without sustainable, healthy communities we won't have a sustainable business. Which is why, as well as taking action ourselves, we're committed to helping consumers to do their bit as well."

The 'Keep it Going. Recycle' campaign will break across print and outdoor media on 21^st September 2009. The new Southampton City Centre Recycle Zone opens on 22^nd September.

Tom Delay, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust, said: "It's great to see Coca-Cola making the most of its carbon footprinting work with us. By redesigning their product's packaging, they are doing their bit to reduce its footprint. The 'Keep it going. Recycle' campaign helps consumers understand that simple actions reduce that carbon footprint even further, we wish it every success. This campaign, along with Coca-Cola's commitment to reduce its emissions, is the sort of integrated thinking that will build their reputation as a low-carbon brand and is a model for others to follow. We want to see more companies using the Carbon Reduction Label to promote their commitment to cutting carbon and to help consumers do their bit."

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For media enquiries:

Coca-Cola press office: Tel: + 44 (0)20 8237 3782. Email: gbpressoffice@eur.ko.com

Notes to Editors:

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with nearly 500 sparkling and still brands.  Along with 'Coca-Cola', recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio includes 12 other billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, glaceau vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid and Georgia Coffee.  Globally, it is the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees.  Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of nearly 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, the Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate.  For more information about the Company, please visit the website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com. 

Full results of the Coca-Cola carbon footprinting research can be found at www.cokecorporateresponsibility.co.uk

The Carbon Trust is a publicly funded independent company set up by the UK Government in 2001 to help businesses transition to the low-carbon economy. The Carbon Trust is the leading international organisation helping companies measure, reduce and communicate the carbon footprints of their products and services.  

The Carbon Trust designed the Carbon Reduction Label to help companies communicate the impact of their product carbon footprinting work to consumers. Companies that display the Carbon Trust's Carbon Reduction Label (on pack, online or elsewhere) are making a commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of their product or service.

The carbon footprint of a product or service is the total carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases emitted during its life, from production to final disposal. Taking a packet of crisps for example, it includes the CO2 and other greenhouse gases that went into the farming of the potatoes, transporting the potatoes from the field to the factory and onto the supermarket as well as looking at how we finally dispose of the crisp packet.