This is Forward.
This is Forward is our sustainability action plan. It sits at the heart of our long-term business strategy and sets out the actions we are taking on six key social and environmental topics, where we know we can make a significant difference and what our stakeholders want us to prioritise:
- Climate action
- Sustainable packaging
- Water stewardship
- The wellbeing of our people and those working across our value chain
- Consumer health and wellbeing
- Our contribution to our local communities
Our success is built on great people, great service and great beverages. We want to deliver sustainable growth, create value for all our stakeholders and build a better future for our business, our communities and the planet.
This is Forward is closely aligned with The Coca-Cola Company’s global sustainability ambitions. It includes our 2030 GHG emissions reduction target, which is approved by the Science Based Targets initiative as being in line with a 1.5°C reduction pathway and our commitments align with the targets which underpin the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This is Forward has now been extended to cover our markets in Europe, Australia, the Pacific and Indonesia. It is a unified action plan that we will work towards in 31 countries across the world, and includes ambitious, time-bound sustainability commitments.
Our progress in 2023
Our Headline Commitments
Forward on climate
Decarbonise our business to reach net-zero emissions by 2040.
Our commitments and targets:
- Net Zero GHG emissions (Scope 1, 2 and 3) by 2040 (SBTi approved, group wide)
- Reduce absolute GHG emissions (Scope 1, 2 and 3) by 30% by 2030, versus 2019 (SBTi approved, Group wide)
- Use 100% renewable electricity across all markets by 2030
- 100% of carbon strategic suppliers to set science based targets by 2023 (Europe) and 2025 (API)
- 100% of carbon strategic suppliers to use 100% renewable electricity by 2025 (Europe) and 2030 (API)
Forward on packaging
Achieve a world without waste by removing unnecessary packaging and making beverage packaging part of the circular economy.
Our commitments and targets:
- 100% of our primary packaging to be recyclable by 2025
- 50% recycled plastic in our PET bottles by 2023 (Europe) and 2025 (API)
- Stop using oil-based virgin plastic in our bottles by 2030
- Collect and recycle a bottle or a can for each one we sell by 2030
Forward on water
Increase water security for all by addressing local water challenges and improving watershed health.
Our commitments and targets:
- 10% water use ratio reduction by 2030, versus 2019
- Replenish 100% of the water we use in our beverages
- 100% regenerative water use in ‘leadership locations’ by 2030
Forward on supply chain
Work with our suppliers to build a sustainable, resilient and low-carbon supply chain.
Our commitments and targets:
- 100% of main agricultural ingredients and raw materials sourced sustainably
- 100% of suppliers to be covered by our Supplier Guiding Principles – including sustainability, ethics and human rights
Forward on drinks
Offer consumers a broad choice of great-tasting drinks both with and without sugar.
Our commitments and targets:
Sugar Reduction:
- by 10% in Europe by 2025*
- by 20% in New Zealand by 2025**
- by 25% in Australia by 2025**
- by 35% in Indonesia by 2025**
- Low and No Calorie: Over 50% of sales to come from low or no-calorie drinks by 2030 (Europe by 2025)***
*Reduction in average sugar per litre in soft drinks portfolio versus 2019. Sparkling soft drinks, non-carbonated soft drinks and flavoured water only. Does not include plain water or juice.
**Reduction in average sugar per litre in NARTD portfolio versus 2015. Including dairy. Does not include coffee, alcohol, beer or Freestyle.
***Does not include coffee, alcohol, beer or Freestyle. Low calorie beverages ≤20kcal/100ml. Zero calorie beverages <4kcal/100ml.
Forward on society
Champion inclusion, challenge inequality and support economic mobility.
Our commitments and targets:
- 45% of management positions to be held by women by 2030
- A third of our workforce to be women by 2030
- 10% of our workforce represented by people with disabilities by 2030*
- Support the skills development of 500,000 people facing barriers in the labour market by 2030
* Calculated based on the total number of employees responding to our 2023 voluntary inclusion survey and the number of employees self-declaring as having a disability.
Our approach to sustainability reporting
Our 2023 Integrated Report contains a full year of data from 1 January, 2023 to 31 December, 2023 and covers our global business operations in Europe and API. Our Integrated Report is our principal sustainability report which outlines our progress against our sustainability commitments alongside our annual financial performance.
In our download centre you can find a comprehensive collection of our sustainability disclosures, including supplementary data tables, details on our reporting methodology and independent assurance statements.
Listening to our stakeholders
We want to deliver sustainable growth, create value for all our stakeholders and build a better future for our business, our communities and the planet. From our suppliers and investors, to the communities where we operate and the people who make and sell our products, our stakeholders have high expectations of us to address many of today’s societal and environmental challenges.
Their views and priorities play an integral role in the development of our sustainability action plan.
This is Forward is closely aligned with The Coca-Cola Company’s global sustainability ambitions. It is a unified action plan that covers all the markets where we operate, and includes ambitious, timebound commitments that align with the targets which underpin the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Sustainability governance
Our aim is to ensure we have strong governance over sustainability issues. In 2022 we strengthened our internal governance routines on sustainability including a new Sustainability SteerCo led by our CEO, and Sustainability Working Group to provide governance for all company-wide workstreams attended by both CCEP and TCCC.
In 2021, following the acquisition, we held a series of workshops with colleagues across our European and API markets, with TCCC, to explore how we align our sustainability commitments, integrate existing market level commitment where relevant and evolve This is Forward to include API.
Our stories
