Coca-Cola System to Recycle all Clear Plastic Waste at London 2012 as Part of Pledge to Help Deliver World’s Most Sustainable Games

The Coca‑Cola System in Great Britain ('Coca‑Cola') has unveiled bold plans to recycle all colourless Coke and non‑Coke branded PET plastic disposed of at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This pledge forms one part of Coca-Cola's approach to achieving its most sustainable sponsorship activation to date.

Coca‑Cola is working in association with SITA UK, LOCOG's Waste Management partner, to recycle all clear PET plastic waste from the Olympic Park, using it within 80 million new Coke bottles that will be produced within six weeks of the Closing Ceremony. Estimates suggest that this will translate to one fifth of the consumer waste produced at London 2012 venues, taking LOCOG a considerable way towards delivering its target of sending zero waste to landfill with at least 70% of all waste being reused, recycled or composted.

Colourless PET plastic waste will be recycled at Continuum Recycling, Coca‑Cola Enterprises' new joint venture recycling facility with ECO Plastics. Based in North Lincolnshire, Continuum Recycling will open in early 2012 ‑ more than doubling the current production of food grade recycled PET plastic in the UK from 35,000 tonnes in 2010 to more than 75,000 tonnes.

To ensure the 2012 Games is a low carbon event, Coca‑Cola is cutting the carbon footprint of its distribution by a third. Coca‑Cola Enterprises has invested in a state of the art Voltaic Warehouse from which products will be supplied to London venues. Only HFC‑free coolers with LED lighting and doors will be used in Olympic and Paralympic sites.

In addition, 14 biogas trucks will be introduced to deliver products that will continue to be used for deliveries in the London area after the Games. Coca‑Cola's extensive sustainability roadmap for London 2012 sets out stretching commitments across waste, climate change, and health & wellness, which have been designed to leave a legacy of improved sustainable living in the UK for consumers, suppliers, and Coca‑Cola itself as a business.

Other key commitments made by the Coca‑Cola System include:

• At all London 2012 venues, packaged Coca‑Cola products will be served in 100% recyclable plastic bottles which will contain up to 25% recycled content (rPET)
• Coca‑Cola, Diet Coke and Coke Zero drinks will be served in PlantBottle packaging containing up to 22.5% plant based material as well as 25% rPET
• Coca‑Cola will work with LOCOG and WRAP to trial a new, simple waste system that it hopes will become a blueprint for major sporting events in the future
• Coca‑Cola has placed 260 recycling bins in locations around the centre of London. On Oxford Street alone, these bins are collecting over a tonne of recyclable material every day.
• Coca‑Cola is working in association with WWF at every stage of it journey to London 2012 and has incorporated their environmental recommendations into its sustainability strategy.

Jon Woods, Country Manager, Coca Cola Great Britain & Ireland, said: "London 2012 provides a spectacular opportunity for everyone in the UK to raise the bar on sustainability. Coca‑Cola is the longest continuous sponsor of the Olympic Movement. We know from experience that our sponsorship can inspire our own business to take a leap forward in sustainability, and we're committed to building on what we've learnt to help LOGOG make London 2012 the most sustainable Games of modern times.

"When the eyes of four billion people are turned on London next year, we will use the appeal of our brands along with our scale and reach to showcase our cutting edge sustainability programmes, and inspire our consumers, partners and suppliers to live more sustainable lifestyles."

Alongside initiatives that will deliver positive benefits for the environment, Coca‑Cola will continue to use its involvement with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to inspire people to take up sport and develop more active, healthy and sustainable lifestyles. Coca‑Cola has entered into a three‑year partnership with national charity StreetGames that will bring sport to 110,000 young people throughout the country, particularly in deprived areas.

Encouraging a leap forward in sustainable behaviour also extends to providing choice and enabling people to make healthy decisions. At the 1948 Olympic Games Coca‑Cola offered only Coca‑Cola. At London 2012, it will offer the widest range of drinks ever offered at an Olympic and Paralympic Games. Coca‑Cola anticipates that 75% of the volume of drinks it will sell at London 2012 will be low or no-calorie products, water, juice or smoothies.

Simon Baldry, Managing Director of Coca‑Cola Enterprises in GB, said: "Coca‑Cola is committed to supporting the delivery of a truly sustainable London 2012, and we are working in partnership with suppliers and organisations that are critical to delivering our plans.

"All our products for the Olympic Park and trade customers in the London area will be distributed from a new, more environmentally‑friendly Voltaic warehouse in Dagenham. They will be picked up and delivered using 14 new biogas trucks, and chilled in HFC‑free coolers complete with doors and LED lighting. We estimate that these investments will cut the carbon footprint of our distribution at the Games by a third.

"But the benefits will not end there. By incorporating them into our long‑term supply chain we'll achieve environmental benefits well beyond the Games. Our investment in Continuum Recycling shows the scale of our ambition. Our vision is challenging, but we know it will make a positive difference ‑ to individuals, communities and the planet."

Simon Lewis, 2012 spokesperson, WWF, said: "It is exciting to see The Coca‑Cola Company harnessing the power of London 2012 as a force for good ‑ something that is in all of our interests. The strength of the Coca‑Cola brand puts it in a unique position to trigger a significant shift in sustainable behaviour with the potential to leave a legacy of positive environmental change long after the Olympics have left town. I welcome this strategy for supporting the delivering of a sustainable Games. Coca-Cola, in association with WWF, will address the critical challenges involved, and help to set new industry standards that we hope will make a difference in London, across the UK, and around the world."