European Union

In the European Union (EU), our main priority is to make a meaningful and responsible contribution to public policy goals related to health and nutrition. Our Fit For the Future strategy focuses on marketing responsibly, broadening and balancing our product portfolio, and providing nutrition information and physical activity programs to consumers.

Disaster Relief

Forest area around the Pierre de Coubertin monument, a tribute to the founder of the modern Olympic Games. The site, on the grounds of Ancient Olympia where the Olympic Games were first held, was severely damaged by the forest fires that scorched Greece over the 2007 summer.

Greek Fires: In eleven extremely hot and windy days of uncontrolled fires, Greece has been hit by the worst disaster in its modern history. The Coca-Cola system has been working closely with Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company and the Greek authorities to mobilize resources. To date, the Coca-Cola system has provided more than 400,000 liters of drinking water to those in affected areas. We also sent teams of volunteers to work with the Red Cross in order to set up camps for the homeless, as well as offering refuge in warehouse facilities, and providing assistance to customers whose premises have been damaged or destroyed.

Dominique Reiniche (L), president of The Coca-Cola Company's European Union Group, presents a check for US $2 million to Minoas Kyriakou (R), president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, to aid in the restoration of its site in Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The site was severely damaged by the forest fires in Greece this past summer. The Coca-Cola Company is the longest continuous supporter of the Olympic Games in a partnership that dates to 1928.

Nutrition Labeling

In 2007, Coca-Cola products throughout the EU began carrying expanded nutrition information on packaging. By 2008, all packaging will contain additional caloric and other nutrition information. This voluntary initiative will help consumers make informed choices in order to meet their diet and lifestyle needs.

Responsible Marketing

In 2006, in conjunction with UNESDA, the European Soft Drinks Association, we reaffirmed our policy of not advertising to children or engaging in commercial activities in primary schools. Our policy in the EU also includes offering a wider range of products in unbranded vending machines in secondary schools. Implementation of these commitments -- publicly praised by the EU Commissioner of Health and Consumer Protection -- was independently verified in the marketplace and showed a very high level of compliance.

Physical Activity Programs

Each year, approximately 100,000 grassroots physical activity events are supported by the Coca-Cola system in the EU. These initiatives are organized with local governments and other stakeholders, and encourage young people to develop active lifestyles.

Sustainable Packaging

Austria: In 2006, Coca-Cola Beverages Austria, together with other industry partners, finalized a € 15 million investment partnership to build the country's first bottle-to-bottle recycling plant. The plant, scheduled to be in full operation in 2007, has the capacity to provide 6,000 tons of recycled PET annually for use in new bottles.

Great Britain: Coca-Cola Great Britain's "Talent From Trash" consumer recycling initiative has yielded some highly impressive results. The twelve-week program targeted male football fans -- harnessing their love of the game to encourage them to recycle more of their rubbish. By pledging to recycle on the "Talent from Trash" website and then recycling through curbside and community facilities, fans could earn money from Coca-Cola Great Britain to support their football club's youth development programs, helping the clubs invest in future talent and success. Recently released data from the unique project, which ended in November 2007, shows that "Talent from Trash" helped boost household recycling levels by over 5% on average across the 13 councils that participated in the three-month initiative.

Water Stewardship

Greece: Together with its bottler, the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (HBC), Coca-Cola Greece is leading a program designed to alert employees and the public at large to the importance of water conservation. The program, which will be rolled out over the next two years, aims to inform and engage employees about the worldwide shortage of water, in the hope they will become more active in protecting their local water supplies and helping pass the message on to others to do the same. The Coca-Cola system in Greece is also taking action to minimize the quantity of wastewater it produces during the production process and to ensure that wastewater is treated before its release.

Spain and Poland: The Coca-Cola system has joined WWF to combat water shortages, aid areas of drought, protect watersheds in danger and plan more efficient bottling operations. Our collaboration with WWF also has focused on raising awareness about what individuals can do to save water.

Energy & Climate Protection

Great Britain: Coca-Cola Enterprises is representing the Coca-Cola system as one of nine companies working in partnership with The Carbon Trust in GB to identify and reduce the carbon footprint of its product range. The initiative will analyze the greenhouse gas emissions, measured in carbon dioxide equivalents, associated with selected products. This "product footprint" includes emissions from manufacturing (including the raw materials used), packaging, transport, storage and disposal. By working with The Carbon Trust, the Coca-Cola system hopes to identify more opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and explore new ways of communicating this information to consumers.