Coca-Cola HBC Again Named Europe’s Most Sustainable Beverage Company

Zug, Switzerland – 14 November 2020 – The 2020 Dow Jones Sustainability Index – one of the world’s leading global sustainability benchmarks – has again rated Coca-Cola HBC as Europe’s most sustainable beverage company.  This is the 7^th time in 8 years that the company has been ranked number 1 in Europe and with its highest ever score, is ranked number two globally - its 10^th successive year in the top three.

Commenting on the achievement, CEO Zoran Bogdanovic said: “The CoVid-19 pandemic has brought us closer to our communities than ever before and it continues to be a privilege to serve and support them. Therefore, I am particularly proud that, in this year, the commitment of our people and partners to building a positive social and environmental impact has again been recognized.  It is a commitment that is integral to our future growth and one that will never change.  Staying humble in the face of the challenges and knowing that we have a long journey ahead will be two critical elements for our continued success.”

This result builds on the recognition for Coca-Cola HBC’s performance from other respected sustainability surveys and indexes such as MSCI ESG, CDP, FTSE4Good, and FTSE Russell ESG.

Sustainability highlights

• A science-based reduction of 25% in carbon emissions intensity along the value chain  (compared with 2010), two years ahead of the 2020 target date.  Since 2010 the company has saved the equivalent of 1.53 million tonnes of CO2;
• More than 98% of the €3.2 billion purchasing spend on goods and raw materials was local (in the market of manufacture);
• Every job in the system supports an average of 11.8 other jobs;
• Since the launch of the company’s flagship community programme - #YouthEmpowered - in 2017, approximately 300,000 young people across 28 countries have been trained;
• The amount of water used by manufacturing sites in water-risk areas was reduced by 7% compared with 2017;
• 38% of management roles are now held by women, with a target to reach 50% by 2025;
• Four mineral water brands across five markets are now packaged in bottles made from 100% recycled PET;  0.5l Coke bottles made from 50% recycled PET in two countries;
• The company achieved an employee engagement score of 90%, above the high-performing norm and considerably higher than the average for FTSE 100 companies;
• Donation of more than 4 million litres of beverages to frontline keyworkers and foodbanks during the first wave of CoVid-19 infections;
• Together with The Coca-Cola Foundation supported Red Cross initiatives and our HoReCa customers with grants totalling more than $10 million USD.

Mission Sustainability

Coca-Cola HBC launched its 2025 sustainability commitments in September 2018 to address six key areas: reducing emissions; water use and stewardship; World Without Waste; ingredients sourcing; nutrition; and our people and communities. The full commitments can be viewed here. We have already made good progress and are on track to meet these.

Note to editors:

• Coca-Cola HBC has the highest achievable ratings in some of the most prominent  Sustainability surveys and indexes:  MSCI ESG, CDP Climate Change and CDP Water
  
  
• Coca-Cola HBC is ranked the world’s most sustainable beverage company by Vigeo Eiris and the most sustainable beverage company in the FTSE100 by FTSE Russell ESG
  
  
• Coca-Cola HBC has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series since it was established in 2000

• Coca-Cola HBC is ranked amongst the top 10 most sustainable companies internationally by the annual EcoAct Sustainability Report, ranking the company in the same group as Apple, Unilever and Microsoft.