Product carbon footprint

This work marked the first time that the footprint of any brand of sparkling drink had been certified by the Carbon Trust.

For 'Coca-Cola' 'diet Coke' and 'Coke Zero' we measured the carbon footprint of a 330ml can, 330ml glass bottle, 500ml PET bottle and a two-litre plastic bottle.

For 'Oasis' we measured the footprint of our 375ml glass bottle and 500ml plastic bottle.

The table below shows the carbon footprints of these products, as measured by the Carbon Trust in 2008

The research showed that

• Packaging is the largest contributor to a product's carbon footprint - accounting for between 30-70% of the total emissions.
• Using recycled materials in packaging and recycling the empty container after use can reduce the carbon footprint of a product by up to 60%.

We think this is one of the single most important - and powerful - messages we can get out to all consumers of our products.

Climate change is perhaps the biggest long-term challenge our planet faces. We at Coca-Cola are determined to help reduce emissions as part of our commitment to be a responsible, sustainable business.

The overwhelming majority of experts agree that human activity is changing our climate. They warn that the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases we pump into our atmosphere will have a damaging impact on our environment and way of life. And they have called for us all to reduce greenhouse gas emissions if we want to limit this damage.

It is not easy. These gases are produced by almost everything we do - from the way food is grown and businesses operate, to every time we drive our cars, cook or watch TV at home. It is estimated that in the UK we produce 869 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year - an average of 15 tonnes per person*.

*CenSA data for UK consumption based emissions in 2004

Personal Carbon Allowances

A White Paper in partnership with the Carbon Trust, The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises was launched in April 2012.

While consumer awareness of sustainability is growing and leading to emerging interest in selecting sustainable products, a significant knowledge gap exists. The White Paper examines how to enhance consumer awareness and understanding of sustainability and explores options for providing environmental information in a simple and easy-to-understand way. In particular, the White Paper introduces the concept of Personal Carbon Allowances, where individuals could be given an allowance to represent the maximum level of carbon emissions that should result from an individual's typical daily activities (including travel, food and drink).

A carbon footprint helps us gauge the impact we are having on our environment. It measures the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by different activities. Every business and individual has their own footprint. If we know the size of our footprint and what this comprises, it is easier for each of us to decide how to change the way we do things to reduce it.

We have measured our product's carbon footprint in partnership with the Carbon Trust, an independent body set up by the Government to help organisations in the fight against climate change.

Along with other key industry bodies, we have been working with the Carbon Trust since 2007 to see how the method they use can be accurately applied to soft drinks. We wanted to be sure, for example, their calculations include the time our drinks could be stored in a cooler and the recycled material we use in our packaging. Our work has been focused on Great Britain, but we have shared the information across our operations worldwide to help shape their journey towards sustainable energy stewardship.

Each product carbon footprint was calculated by identifying the key stages in the full lifecycle of the selected drinks - from growing ingredients, through production, distribution and retailing, to the disposal of the empty bottle or can.

At each stage, we measured the energy used, calculated the associated carbon emissions and also looked at other sources of greenhouse gas emissions. We then added the total greenhouse gas emissions together to get the carbon footprint of the product.

It is a complicated process - taking into account a whole range of factors. The source of electricity, for example, has a major impact on the carbon footprint of a product. Products produced at a manufacturing site powered by electricity generated from nuclear power, for example, would have a much lower carbon footprint that products produced at an identical site powered by electricity generated from coal or gas.