Coca-Cola Refreshments earned the No. 3 spot on the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) list of the largest on-site green power
generators. EPA’s Green Power Partnership includes more than 1,300
organizations recognized for their support of alternative energy to
reduce their environmental impacts.
A key factor in Coca-Cola Refreshments’ high ranking is the recent
installation of a landfill-gas-to-energy system at one of its Atlanta
facilities. The system supplies most of the facility’s energy needs,
including electricity, steam and chilled water. It is one of the largest
biogas projects of its kind in the United States. The use of bio-fuels,
fuel cells and solar panels to provide alternative energy at other
facilities also contributed to the recognition.
“The EPA applauds Coca-Cola Refreshments as a leader in using green
power,” said Blaine Collison, Director of EPA’s Green Power Partnership.
“Coca-Cola was named a Top Partner due to the company’s commitment to
reducing its carbon footprint through on-site renewable energy
generation.”
The system at the Atlanta plant generates at least 48 million
kilowatt-hours (kWh) of on-site biomass energy annually. This is
equivalent to eliminating the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
of more than 6,000 passenger vehicles per year.
“Investing in energy efficiency projects like the landfill-gas-to-energy
system creates multiple benefits. It helps The Coca-Cola Company meet
our environmental sustainability goals while reducing costs in our
manufacturing process,” said Brian Kelley, Chief Product Supply Officer
for Coca-Cola Refreshments. “Being named a Green Power Partner by the
Environmental Protection Agency is validation for our ongoing work in
creating energy and carbon efficiencies in our supply chain.”
The landfill-gas-to-energy project was part of the facility’s effort to
achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold
certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is the
world's most influential rating system among the standards for
assessment of environmental sustainability of facilities. The use of
recycled materials, renewable energy, energy-efficient lighting and
mechanical systems in the facility’s building design, as well as
reduction in water consumption, were all winning aspects which
contributed to receiving certification.
Advancing the use of alternative energy is a key component of The
Coca-Cola Company’s Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection strategy in
North America. This strategy is one of seven focus areas that make up
Coca-Cola’s Live Positively™ platform – the Company’s commitment to
making a positive difference in the world by growing the business in
more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable ways. For
more information on Live Positively™, visit www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/index.html.
The Coca-Cola Company
The
Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage
company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still
brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's
portfolio features 15 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta,
Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply,
Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling
beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through
the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than
200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.8 billion servings a
day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities,
our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental
footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work
environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of
the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners,
we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than
700,000 system employees. For more information, please visit www.thecoca-colacompany.com
or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo.
