Reduction of carbon emissions

Climate pledge will reduce CO₂ emissions in production

Coca-Cola Hellenic has pledged to combat global warming by building 15 Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units in 12 countries resulting in a 20 per cent reduction of CO₂ emissions across 80 beverage production plants, well ahead of the 2020 deadline for emission reductions set by the European Union.

The development of the second CHP unit in Ploiesti (Romania) in October 2009 follows the successful pilot project in Dunaharaszti (Hungary) launched back in 2006. Coca-Cola Hellenic and Contour Global will open up to three plants more in 2010 with others to follow in 2010 and beyond.

The CHP system captures heat from the electricity generators, and uses it to cover the plant requirements for hot water, steam and chilled water (production processes, heating, cooling and cleaning). Typically, a CHP unit has an efficiency of more that 85 per cent. Traditionally energy generators efficiency can be as low as 35 per cent.

The scheme was launched in 2008 in Brussels at a press conference attended by the European Enterprise Commissioner and Vice President of the Commission, Günter Verheugen who said: “This initiative shows that the CSR Alliance is not about words but about changing reality. It demonstrates that environmental and economic goals can be pursued in unison. It also demonstrates how innovation is not just a driver of economic competitiveness, but can also underpin business contribution to wider societal goals, such as the fight against climate change.”

First CHP plant inauguration in Romania

The Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant, constructed in partnership with power development company ContourGlobal, is installed at Coca-Cola Hellenic’s bottling facility in the city of Ploiesti. It is the first of 15 plants that Coca-Cola Hellenic has pledged to build in 12 countries, including eight European Union Member States.

“The opening of the CHP plant represents a milestone to ensure the sustainable development of our operations, and of the communities we serve,” said Mr. Doros Constantinou, Chief Executive Officer of Coca-Cola Hellenic. “Across all of our 28 territories we have been working to increase efficiencies and reduce CO₂ emissions, the main culprit in climate change,” he said.

Joseph Brandt, President and Chief Executive Officer of ContourGlobal, stated, “Producing consumer products sustainably is one of the key challenges of our time. Through our partnership with Coca-Cola Hellenic, we have recombined existing technologies to create an innovative energy facility at Coca-Cola Hellenic's bottling plant in Romania. Our CHP plant is highly energy efficient and substantially reduces CO₂ emissions. We are proud that Coca-Cola Hellenic chose ContourGlobal to develop and operate these innovative facilities throughout Europe and Africa."

Speaking at the official opening, Professor Geoffrey Boulton, Regius Professor in the University of Edinburgh and a member of the UK Prime Minister's Council for Science and Technology said, “…there could be a global average temperature increase of about 4^o C by the end of the century. This may not seem much, but it doubles the global warming from the last ice age to the present.” He continued, “Coca-Cola Hellenic is taking responsibility and leadership by collaborating with a technology company ContourGlobal in reducing emissions. It represents an early step in responding to what is probably the most difficult challenge that the human race has ever collectively had to face, that of global climate and planetary sustainability.”

The CHP plant supplies highly efficient, clean electricity as well as heat and cooling for the soft drink production facility. At the same time, clean electricity is delivered to the local grid, providing energy efficient power for the surrounding community in Ploiesti.

Read the news release.

Pilot CHP plant in Hungary

The Company’s pilot CHP unit in Dunaharaszti, Hungary was launched in March 2006. The staggering 43 per cent reduction – savings of 18,000 tonnes of CO2 - also saved the company €400,000 in energy bills. The system uses a single source of natural gas to provide heating, electrical power and cooling through linked processes.

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