CCEP launches its 2019 Sustainability Stakeholder Report

The report provides an update on the progress CCEP has made on This is Forward, our joint sustainability action plan with The Coca‑Cola Company in Western Europe, which launched in 2017.

This is Forward places sustainability at the heart of our business, and sets out six key social and environmental areas where we have a significant impact.  

In each of these areas – drinks, packaging, society, water, climate and supply chain – we have made a number of commitments which align with the targets underpinning the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 2019 Sustainability Stakeholder Report shows that:

• Over 98% of our primary packaging was recyclable – and 30.5% of the plastic we used in our packaging was recycled plastic. We’ve committed to increasing the level of recycled content in our plastic bottles to at least 50% by 2023.
• 46% of the products we sold were low or no calorie, and we are committed to ensuring that 50% of our sales come from low and no calorie drinks by 2025.
• 100% of the electricity we purchased last year came from renewable sources, and we are reducing greenhouse gas emissions across our entire value chain, with a target to halve our direct carbon emissions by 2025.
• We have replenished 160% of the water we used in areas of water stress. We’re also aiming to reduce by 20% the water we use in our manufacturing operations by 2025.

In 2019, the business also developed a Sustainable Packaging Office (SPO), focussed on streamlining all the technical and exploratory sustainable packaging work across our geographies and accelerating our innovation in this area.

Damian Gammell, CEO, Coca-Cola European Partners said: “Our commitment to putting sustainability at the heart of our business is more important than ever. The work we are doing to reduce carbon and help our climate is critical as society seeks a sustainable recovery from the impact of the Coronavirus. The long-term role we’ve established in our communities means we will work side by side with our NGO partners, customers and community partners to rebuild as restrictions ease.  

"I am proud of the progress we have made in the areas of water, carbon and packaging, but we know there is much more to do. We will continue to listen to our stakeholders, collaborate with our partners and invest in innovation, driving towards a better future for our business, for people and for the planet.”

The release of the Sustainability Stakeholder Report follows the recent publication of CCEP’s 2019 Integrated Report, which outlines progress on our sustainability commitments alongside our annual financial performance.

The Sustainability Stakeholder Report is available online only on CCEP’s website and can be accessed here and the full 2019 progress review infographic (shown above) can be downloaded here.