At Coca-Cola water is essential to our operations. We consider it the lifeblood of our business and there is no question about our commitment to leading in protecting and preserving water resources in the communities where we operate. Reducing water scarcity and enhancing water quality are direct and vital business concerns for us.

Water Facts

• Water is the most basic need for life.
• 1.3 billion people around the world do not have access to safe drinking water.
• 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation.
• In Australia, industry and farming use 89 per cent of the nation’s water.

In Australia, in 2006, the water efficiency we achieved in production of all sparkling and non-sparkling drinks (including water, sports drinks and juice) was world’s best practice for Coca-Cola. On average our plants in Australia used 1.55 litres of water to make 1 finished litre of drink. Over the past six years, water efficiency initiatives at our Australian plants have produced cumulative water savings of around 13 per cent. In 2007 we have committed to reducing this by a further one per cent. Globally, Coca-Cola has improved its water efficiency by more than 19 per cent since 2002.

We are currently implementing a variety of water projects in communities where we operate around the world. At Coca-Cola we call these Community Watershed Partnerships and we have established nearly 70 of these community-based initiatives in 40 countries. These projects include locally relevant initiatives focused on water supply, sanitation, hygiene, watershed management, productive water use, and education and awareness. In Australia we work with our partner Landcare Australia on a series of community based projects to practically conserve some of the nation’s valuable waterways.