Coca-Cola nominates its first Environmental 2010 Olympic Torchbearer

In an effort to spread the Olympic Spirit and create an environmental legacy to encourage Canadians to adopt sustainable environmental practices, Coca-Cola is launching a holistic environmental action plan. Coca-Cola’s Olympic Games Sustainability Plan is designed to outline the holistic methods Coca-Cola is using to minimize its environmental impact while demonstrating to Canadians how their own small changes create an opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame.

The Plan was created through consultation with WWF-Canada and the David Suzuki Foundation. “We are grateful for the advice we received from the David Suzuki Foundation and WWF-Canada in creating this plan,” says Dave Moran, Communications Director, Coca-Cola Ltd.

As part of the David Suzuki Foundation’s ongoing efforts to promote climate action at the 2010 Olympic Games, the Foundation recommended a number of the steps that Coca-Cola is taking to reduce its carbon footprint at the Games. These steps include the use of Gold Standard carbon offsets, third-party auditing of results, and full transparency of the initiative.

“The Olympic Games are a unique opportunity for Canadians to demonstrate their commitment to creating a more positive environment,” says Moran. “Coca-Cola’s Olympic plan offers all Canadians the chance to carry the Olympic Flame by making a personal commitment – big or small – to sustainability.” To recognize an organization that is inspiring Canadians to protect the environment, Coca-Cola announced that Gerald Butts, President and CEO, WWF-Canada has been nominated by Coca-Cola as its first environmental Olympic Torchbearer.

”We applaud the effort Coca-Cola is taking to fight climate change and inspire Canadians to take action to protect the environment, “says Gerald Butts, President and CEO, WWF-Canada. “We are excited by Coke’s commitment to introducing an Olympic Games Sustainability Program at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and its efforts to support Canadians in living more sustainable lives.”

In its Olympic activation, Coca-Cola will be profiling its best global environmental practices to demonstrate how it is reducing its environmental impact. In creating its Olympic Games Sustainability Plan Coca-Cola analyzed every component of its Olympic actions. Coca-Cola’s commitment to sustainability extends to all the programs, activities and services it is providing in relation to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games such as using hybrid or high-efficiency delivery vehicles and introducing North America’s first energy efficient, climate-friendly coolers.

Coca-Cola is rewarding Canadians who Live Positively and reduce their environmental footprint, by providing them with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame through Coca-Cola’s Olympic Torchbearer program. Any Canadian who increases their recycling, conserves energy and water and/or sets examples of environmental sustainability, can nominate themselves to become an Olympic Torchbearer by logging on to www.icoke.ca.

“Congratulations to Coca-Cola,” says Linda Coady, Vice President, Sustainability, VANOC. “This is an example of a business using its Olympic sponsorship to incorporate and highlight environmental innovation in its own practices.”
Olympic Environmental Targets

• Through the use of sustainable packaging and ensuring 100 per cent collection of all PET containers used throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Villages in Vancouver and Whistler and the Olympic venues, 95 per cent of all waste will be diverted from landfills.
• Introducing leading edge technologies to reduce carbon emissions and once all measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are achieved, purchasing Gold Standard carbon offsets (as recommended by WWF-Canada and the David Suzuki Foundation) to offset remaining emissions from the carbon footprint of Coca-Cola’s 2010 Olympic Games operations and its Olympic Torch Relay (OTR) route activation while achieving our goal of reducing our Olympic carbon emissions by 100 per cent. The emissions that will be offset include those from Games-related vehicles, air travel, and energy used by our temporary warehouse and venue beverage coolers.

Promoting the Value of Recycling

• Everywhere Coca-Cola is sold at the Olympic Games consumers will see Coca-Cola’s “Give it Back” campaign. The campaign demonstrates to consumers the potential of every empty bottle to be transformed into a valuable resource for the future (for example clothing) while increasing recycling opportunities and ensuring only recyclable packaging is used at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Coca-Cola and the Olympic Movement

The Coca-Cola Company has been associated with the Olympic Games since 1928 and is the longest continuous corporate supporter of the Olympic Movement. Through the Olympic Games, Coca-Cola encourages people to create their own path of “positivity” in everyday life by believing that anything is possible. The Company’s sponsorship supports National Olympic Committees in more than 200 countries to help athletes train and compete.

Coca-Cola in Canada

The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company. In Canada, the Company is represented by its subsidiary, Coca-Cola Ltd. (Coca-Cola in Canada). Coca-Cola is Canada’s largest beverage company. Coca-Cola in Canada markets three of Canada’s top nonalcoholic sparkling beverage brands, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke and Sprite, and the leading ready-to-drink tea: Nestea. In addition, our subsidiary is the largest juice and juice drinks company with Minute Maid, Five Alive and Fruitopia. The Company also markets DASANI, PowerAde and other hot and cold beverages.

For more information about Coca-Cola in Canada, please visit our website a www.cocacola.ca or our parent company’s website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

Media inquiries:
Lena Beyer
Hill & Knowlton Canada
(416) 413-4759
lena.beyer@hillandknowlton.ca

Posted in: Environment, Olympic Torch Relay