Coca-Cola HBC Signs Prosperity Agreement with Northern Ireland Environment Agency

Environment Minister Edwin Poots has welcomed an innovative Prosperity Agreement between his Department’s Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and Coca‑Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (HBC) Ireland and Northern Ireland, to protect the environment.

This is the ninth Prosperity Agreement between NIEA, part of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), and NI businesses and encourages organisations to improve their overall environmental performance in ways that create prosperity and wellbeing.

With the new Prosperity Agreement Coca‑Cola HBC commits to achieving a total carbon emissions reduction of 47% by 2025. It is also accelerating its sustainable packaging strategy to achieve a World Without Waste; with a commitment to ‘light-weight’ its primary packaging by a further 10% and eliminate at least 600 tonnes of secondary packaging . It continues to invest in recycled materials to create a true circular economy for plastic, with an ambition to achieve at least 50% recycled PET use by 2025.

“My Department supports many of our industries, from food and farming to fishing, forestry, tourism and energy and is increasingly finding ways to work with industry in Northern Ireland to tackle the environmental challenges we face.

“Prosperity Agreements are an excellent way for government and forward-thinking Northern Ireland businesses, like Coca‑Cola HBC, to explore opportunities for reducing environmental impacts in ways that also create prosperity and wellbeing. I would encourage other businesses in Northern Ireland to consider a Prosperity Agreement with my Department.”

Over the last ten years, Coca‑Cola HBC has reduced its carbon emissions by 19% and has an ambition to achieve a further 30% reduction by 2025. Over the last year, the bottler has also accelerated its sustainable packaging strategy to create a World Without Waste.

Speaking about the importance of sustainability to Coca‑Cola HBC, Miles Karemacher, General Manager Ireland & Northern Ireland said: “In 2019, our Group topped the Dow Jones European Sustainability Index for beverage companies for the sixth time in seven years, and we’re proud that Coca‑Cola HBC Northern Ireland contributes to this achievement by continually reducing water, waste and energy at our plant.