Coca-Cola is committing to use its scale to aggregate demand and encourage supply as a means of accelerating the transition to HFC-free refrigeration equipment. This announcement is a direct result of work with Greenpeace that began in 2000, and a demonstration that phasing out the use of HFCs is a tangible and near-term action corporations can take to protect the climate.
The transition to HFC-free refrigeration will reduce the equipment’s direct greenhouse gas emissions by 99%. A recent peer-reviewed report by top scientists shows that HFCs will be responsible for between 28-45% of carbon-equivalent emissions by 2050 if society reduces carbon dioxide while leaving HFCs unchecked. Eliminating HFCs in the commercial refrigeration industry would be equivalent to eliminating the annual greenhouse gas emissions of Germany or Japan.
“Climate change is real and the time to act on solutions is now,” said Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. “Greenpeace has played a critical role in raising our awareness about the need for natural refrigeration. Our announcement demonstrates a commitment to use our influence in the marketplace to drive innovation and help shape a low-carbon future.”
The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners have approximately 10 million coolers and vending machines in place around the world, comprising the largest element of the Coca-Cola system’s total climate impact.
As a result of the commitment to eliminate the use of HFCs in this equipment, carbon emission reductions will exceed 52.5 million metric tonnes over the life of the equipment – the equivalent of taking more than 11 million cars off the road for a year.
Source: Coca-Cola Great Britain
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024