CCBA Reaffirms Commitment to Environmental Sustainability

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability through a series of strategic initiatives focused on water security, waste reduction, and climate action. Tshidi Ramogase, CCBA Chief Public Affairs, Communication, and Sustainability Officer, outlined the company's holistic approach to building resilience and creating positive environmental change during a recent address.

“Our sustainability strategy is centred around people—consumers and our employees—and driving sustainable solutions that build resilience into our business to respond to current and future challenges, while creating positive change for the planet,” said Ramogase.

Water is a critical component for CCBA, being the primary ingredient in their beverages and essential for the communities they serve. The Coca-Cola Company’s 2030 Water Security Strategy aims to increase water security by ensuring a steady supply of clean water for people and ecosystems. This involves sustainable, clean water access that improves livelihoods and well-being while protecting against water-related disasters.

Ramogase highlighted the company's efforts in Kenya, where they have opened a new wastewater treatment plant at the Equator Bottlers plant in Kisumu. This facility promotes sustainable water use by treating and recycling wastewater for non-potable purposes such as irrigation and cleaning.

In Botswana, CCBA has partnered with the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources to donate water from a newly installed treatment plant for agricultural irrigation at the campus. This initiative ensures that clean water is returned to the environment, making the company fully compliant with effluent regulations.

CCBA is also driving a circular economy to reduce waste and carbon emissions. The company is expanding the use of recycled content in its packaging, promoting refillable bottles, and enhancing recycling efforts through Coca-Cola’s World Without Waste initiative. A notable success story is the PET Recycling Company (PETCO) established in South Africa in 2004, which has effectively regulated PET plastic recycling. This model has been extended to Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia, with plans to include additional countries like Namibia.

Ramogase emphasized the importance of partnerships in achieving sustainability goals. “While we strive to make progress on our own, we are committed to fostering partnerships that drive collective impact in areas including water stewardship, packaging circularity, climate action, and many more,” she said. CCBA engages with stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, communities, suppliers, business partners, and customers to ensure continuous improvement and alignment with sustainability goals.