The Green Initiatives Being Implemented By the For the Coca-Cola Company and the Driving Forces Behind the Initiatives

The green initiatives relates to diverse efforts being put into place to ensure that environmental conservation efforts are a success. Sustainable technologies such as solar power, wind power, geothermal power, and other supplementary sources of energy are used to enhance accessibility and energy output. Coca-cola Company has unique green initiatives that ensure reuse, reduction in energy consumption, and recycling of waste products (Marc 2009). The company has its presence in more than 2000 countries in which it operates in and it aims to become the global leader in water and forest management by the year 2015.

Green Initiatives Implemented By the Coca-Cola Company Water is the basic ingredient for Coca-Cola soft-drink manufacturing company. Water stewardship strategy of the company aims to ensure that in-depth streamlined water utilization efforts are put into place. The ‘Learn from the Forest’, the ‘Green and Lean’, and the ‘Climate Savers Program’ initiatives are among other green initiatives used by the company since 2000 to push forward its efforts to conserve water catchment areas (Marc 2009).

Though commonly known as the environmental initiative, the company’s green initiatives have been designed to support a much healthy and sustainable production processes. Protection of soil and natural resources are aimed at sustaining flora and the overall welfare of the consumers through the support of healthy water sheds. Provision and usage of alternative energy sources is another initiative used by the company while at the same time reducing the greenhouse gas emissions, recycling of wastes, and use of renewable sources of energy.

Additionally, the efforts implemented by the company shrinks the operational energy footprints. The company’s green initiatives have mainly been focused on the future water needs and energy availability. Afforestation and reforestation efforts and nature walk activities have therefore been continuously practiced. According to Marc (2009), recycling of production materials through its rolled out initiatives and utilization of renewable sources of energy and the use of eco-friendly materials in the company’s business operations have also been undertaken.

According to the coca-cola company 2002 environmental report, the spring 2010 recycling bin grant program clearly demonstrates the extent to which utilization of the environmental management systems whose core purpose is to ensure that conservation efforts have been put into place in order to ensure that production, sales, transportation, and recycling of the company’s beverage products is done. For instance, the eKOsystem is aimed are continuously reducing the environmental impact that is generated at various business process stages.

The system also reduces water wastages through increased efficiency and cost effectiveness in water usage (Marc 2009). Collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is another initiative currently being utilized by the company. It involves fresh water resources conservation efforts aimed at addressing efficient water utilization through combined funding of $3. 75 million. The initiative is also targeted at conserving the world’s seven most critical water basins.

The collection of $ 20 million by the Coca-Cola Company and WWF initiative was intended to enhance efficiency and water conservation. The initiative is also related to the energy related initiatives that are focused on reducing the CO2 emissions from the company business production processes. For instance, the Coca-Cola Japan Company’s green initiative, through the use of the ‘Cool Biz’ and the ‘Team Minus 6%’ initiatives targets to reduce electricity consumption, cleaning the air, and enhancing durability as is reflected in the planting of the Hedera canariensis.

Furthermore, the green initiative, through the waste related initiatives targets maintain zero emissions status at the plants while at the same time reducing the volume of tea leaves used (Coca-Cola Environmental Initiatives 2009). The Company’s vending machines and the commercial coolers have been designed to rely heavily on HFC-free with 40-50% efficient. The Driving Forces behind the Green Initiatives

The need to reduce the environmental impact while at the same time increasing the company efficiency and ensuring that long term profitability of the company is the core driving force for Coca-Cola Company’s efforts to implement its green initiative. Enhancing success in the market by operating responsibly and addressing global issues such as water scarcity and climate change, realize the success, sustainability, and prosperity of the communities within which the company operates.

Secondly, the global need to address the global warming challenges has continued to be a core driving force that has compelled the Coca-Cola Company to continue with its green initiative. This has also been enhanced by the need for the implementation of cost effective business operational strategies through the reduction of business expenses. The need for all companies to adhere to the International Organization for Standards (ISO) 14000 Protocols is another factor that has influenced the company’s decision to implement the green initiative.

The green initiative being implemented by the company through the Coca-Cola Management System (TCCMS), which is Coca-Cola system’ s global management system, is in line with the ISO 14000 protocols. According to the company’s activity report for 2008, the Coca-Cola Company system has continued to convey the importance of preserving forests and other water catchment areas. In line with this strategy, the company uses the cogeneration systems, which effectively use waste heat that is produced when electricity is being generated. Coca-Cola Company has in other instances been compelled by other external forces to implement the green initiatives.

The Greenpeace movement is widely known to be in the forefront in challenging the Coca-Cola Company, under the KO-Fortune 500, to get rid of the unfriendly environment conventional coolers, inefficient compressors, and vending machines. Furthermore, the need to safeguard the company’s reputation and ensure that it is viewed as human-friendly with great care to human needs and the global environmental climatic challenges are great driving force for the green initiative by the company (The 2006 Environmental Performance 2006; Coca-Cola Environmental Initiatives 2009).

Based on the requirements of the ISO protocols that demands that a company should have very sound environmental processes and protocol policies and its ten areas of standardization, it is evident that Coca-Cola Company, through its Green Initiatives has adhered to the ISO 14000 standards. Through the diverse initiatives and adherence to the ISO standards, the operations of the company have continued to be more cost effective, led to very positive impact to the global warming and hence a better world to live in.

The overall cost of running the company has also drastically reduced and the operations streamlined and made more efficient and cost effective (Coca-Cola Environmental Initiatives 2009). Conclusion In accordance with the above analysis of the Green Initiatives for the Coca-Cola Company, it is evident that various driving forces have continued to compel the Coca-Cola Company actively participating in the green initiative with the core intention of ensuring that the international organization for standards based on the ISO 14000 protocol are adhered to.

Contrary to the common norm of most manufacturing and production companies, Coca-Cola’s green initiative does not directly involve the planting of trees, but rather putting into place strategic mechanisms that are aimed addressing the root causes of deforestation (Coca-Cola Environmental Initiatives 2009). References Coca-Cola Environmental Initiatives. (2009). The Supplement to the Coca-Cola 2009 Sustainability report.

The eKO-System. <http://www. cocacola. co. jp/positively/pdf/2009/eng_additional. pdf>. Marc, G. (2009). Coke, The green thing, Coca-Cola is an environmentalist, but making the company sustainable is harder than it looks. <http://money. cnn. com/2008/04/14/news/companies/coca_cola. fortune/>. 2006-Environment Performances. (2006). The Coca-Coca Company, Verification statement, a management summary.