Since returning to India in 1993, The Coca-Cola Company has provided opportunities for citizens and communities throughout the nation.
The Coca-Cola System in India includes 24 Company-owned bottling operations and another 25 franchisee-owned bottling operations.
Our operations directly employ 5,500 local people and create jobs for another 150,000.
Almost all of the goods and services needed to produce and market Coca-Cola Company beverages are made in India.
All of our Company-owned plants in India are certified by the internationally acclaimed ISO 14001 environment management system and are fully compliant with all statutory conditions of Indian regulatory agencies.
During the past decade, The Coca-Cola Company and its bottlers have invested more than U.S. $1 billion in India, making the Coca-Cola system one of the country’s leading investors. There are nearly 7,000 Coca-Cola distributors and more than 1 million Coca-Cola retailers in India.
Our Efforts to Address India’s Water Challenges
Protecting and improving water resources is vital to the success of The Coca-Cola Company in India and around the world. Our water stewardship practices in India allow us to address challenges at several points of the water cycle.
Over the last 8 years (1999 – 2006), Coca-Cola India has reduced water consumption by 35%.
We are working in India to reach zero water balance by 2009 with respect to groundwater usage – that is, on a net basis we will cause as much water to be recharged into groundwater aquifers as we extract from them. With this 2009 goal, India will be leading our global operations in meeting this leadership commitment.
Our 2009 goal will be accomplished through measures in four core areas: 1) reducing the water used to produce our beverages, 2) recycling water used for beverage manufacturing processes, 3) reusing of water for in-plant grounds maintenance, and 4) replenishing water in communities and nature.
Rooftop rainwater harvesting projects at all of our India bottling plants will recharge millions of gallons of water each year at each facility.
With UN Habitat, we have developed a partnership on water conservation which sponsors rainwater harvesting at 15 schools and provides safe drinking water at 150 schools in India and water and sanitation in 5 communities in Nepal.
Through our partnership with UN Habitat, we help sponsor rainwater harvesting at 15 schools and provide safe drinking water at 150 schools in India and water sanitation in five communities in Nepal.
Through our partnership with Rotary International we have provided drinking water solutions to nearly 30,000 students at 100 schools in India, and with additional partners, we are expanding the program to 1,000 schools.
Working with India’s Central Groundwater Authority (CGWA), we are teaming with local governments and communities to help combat water scarcity and restore groundwater tables through rainwater harvesting and other measures.
We have helped restore community reservoirs known as bawaris, which had fallen into disrepair. The restored bawaris provide fresh water to thousands of families in surrounding communities and serve as the focal point for water conservation education campaigns.
In the State of Andrha Padesh, we have worked to reconstruct a dam and reclaim a water storage area. The new reservoir will provide a new source of drinking water and will hold enough water to irrigate 1,000 acres of cropland.
For four consecutive years, the Government of Delhi has honored Coca-Cola India with special recognition for the Company’s active participation in the State Government’s Bhagidari program to implement rainwater harvesting and solid waste management initiatives in various parts of Delhi.
For four consecutive years, from 2008 – 2011, The Coca-Cola Company will support 10 watershed studies across India to provide much-needed information to guide water stewardship efforts.
Through The Coca-Cola India Foundation, the Company has committed $10 million to support efforts to improve water resources, the environment, healthy living, and social advancement.
Our Efforts to Support India’s Communities
The Coca-Cola Company works with multiple partners to improve the economic and environmental vitality of every community where we operate.
In November 2007, we ranked the 2nd Most Respected Fast Moving Consumer Goods Company and 7th Most Respected Multinational in BusinessWorld‘s composite list of most respected companies.
Among consumers, the Company was named “best brand” by the Harris Poll in 2007 and one of India’s “most trusted” brands by Reader’s Digest.
The Company and its company-owned bottling units have won several awards for its contribution to the community, environmental stewardship and other CSR efforts, including:
Four-consecutive Bhagidari awards from the Government of Delhi for the Company’s achievements in water conservation and community development;
The Prestigious Golden Peacock Environment Management Award for 2005 – awarded by the World Environment Foundation – in recognition of world-class environment practices at the Kaladera plant;
The 2006 Golden Peacock Environment Management Special Commendation in recognition of world-class environment practices;
The National Award for Excellence in Water Management for 2005;
Awards from state governments of Patna (Bihar), Varanasi (UP), and Neemam (Tamil Nadu); and,
The Heart Care Foundation of India’s “Distinguished Service” award.
