Bottling climate change
Coca-Cola Hellenic
Coca-Cola Hellenic, the largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola products in Europe, is constructing 15 Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants in 12 countries as part of a group-wide plan to slash CO2 emissions in its operations.
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Coca-Cola Hellenic’s pilot CHP (Combined Heat and Power)
plant, built 2006 in Hungary |
The CO2 emitted from its bottling and distribution operations is currently 890,000 tonnes across 28 countries. The carbon intensity has been cut 28% over the past five years, and it is expected current initiatives will result in a further 20% reduction by the end of 2010.
The construction of CHP plants are one of the pillars of Coca-Cola Hellenic’s energy reduction strategy which is being rolled out across operations. The strategy involves all employees and engages suppliers, customers, governments and local community organisations.
Construction is being undertaken with the US-based firm, Contour Global, a leading developer of gas-based energy-efficient systems which capture and reuse heat from power generation. The units provide for all the power needs of the bottling facility, including heat, cooling and electricity, and are able to sell excess clean energy to the grid.
In an innovative industrial development, the CHP plants even capture the CO2 from the natural gas exhaust emissions, filter it to the highest food standards and re-use it for beverage carbonation, resulting in a revolutionary quad-generation system.
The plants are being built in 11 countries: Greece, Italy, Northern Ireland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Nigeria, Ukraine, and Serbia.
Managing Director, Doros Constantinou, explained that Coca-Cola Hellenic made the decision to build the CHP plants following impressive results achieved with a pilot CHP plant at the company’s bottling facility in Hungary. This achieved a reduction in CO2 emissions of 43%, equivalent to more than 18,000 tons of CO2. At the same time, energy costs were reduced by €400,000. It is anticipated each of the new plants will realise similar reductions and savings.
Throughout the business
Other energy saving initiatives include new cleaning regimes that use cold water instead of hot, along with the installation of heat recovery, energy efficiency technologies and energy saving devices.
The Group is applying efficiencies in offices and other facilities, such as warehouses and storage areas, introducing lower-energy computers and energy-saving power and lighting systems. Employees are informed about the importance of environmental protection, and encouraged to engage in energy-saving practices – at work and at home.
Care is taken in transportation. Vehicle engines are being downsized, alternative fuels are being used, hybrid technology is being explored, and employees are being trained in eco-friendly driving. Efficient route planning and avoidance of air transport further scale back energy usage.
Action is also being taken in making cooling equipment, a primary source of indirect emissions, more climate-friendly. Working together with Frigoglass, a key supplier, Coca-Cola Hellenic has introduced new, low-energy cooling units which have a carbon footprint up to 50% smaller than previous models (see also the Frigoglass story).
High climate impact refrigerant gases such as hydrofluorocarbons have been banned from insulation since 2006 and HFC coolers are being replaced by low impact systems using hydrocarbon and CO2 technologies.
In carrying out energy-saving activities, the Group supports communities and governments, from local activities to the UN Global Compact “Caring for Climate”, the largest global business coalition on climate action.
Coca-Cola Hellenic
W: www.coca-colahellenic.com
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