Coca-Cola Philippines affirms commitment to helping preserve, improve water resources
COCA-COLA Philippines brought together in a forum a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss locally-relevant water issues and explore collaborative solutions for addressing water-related challenges.
With a presence in more than 200 countries and territories, The Coca-Cola Company believes it has a responsibility to protect local water resources and help people who live in places that face water scarcity.
“In the Philippines, we invest in initiatives to reduce water in making beverages and to treat and reuse water where possible. The goal is to return to nature and communities the amount of water used to produce our finished beverages. Efforts to preserve nature and biodiversity and promote advanced water management practices are among our company’s priorities,” said Coca-Cola Philippines President Tony del Rosario during the 2030 Water Security Strategy Forum last Nov. 16.
To accelerate its actions on water, The Coca-Cola Company launched this year its holistic 2030 Water Security Strategy, which focuses on: achieving 100% circular water use across 175 facilities globally identified as leadership locations; forming partnerships to improve the health of 60 critical watersheds worldwide; and returning a cumulative total of 2 trillion liters of water to nature and communities globally between 2021 to 2030.
Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI) has improved its national water use efficiency across 18 manufacturing plants throughout the country through stringent water-saving initiatives. From 2015 to 2022, CCBPI saved approximately 11 million cubic meters of water, equivalent to about 4,400 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
“Our passion for water sustainability is evident in the way we operate. From conducting Source Water Vulnerability Assessments to understanding and monitoring our water sources, making sure that we improve on our water use in our plants, to ensuring that we have the right people and the right technological investments in our facilities,” shared Atty. Juan Lorenzo Taňada, director for Corporate & Regulatory Affairs of CCBPI.
Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc. (CCFPI), meanwhile, prioritizes nature-based solutions as a way to conserve watersheds using natural processes such as reforestation, wetland restoration, and sustainable agriculture.
Together with WWF Philippines, the Foundation has worked to improve the health of Ipo Watershed, one of the main sources of water of Metro Manila. Their 5-year partnership has replenished approximately 400 million liters of water per year due to decreased runoff, helped reduce 2,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year from reforestation, and improved sustainable food supply for the people living in the community.
CCFPI’s partnership with the Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation for over a decade has led to the installation of more than a hundred ram pump projects across the country, providing water for domestic use and helping reduce the prevalence of waterborne diseases.
“The results of our water stewardship program testify to the power of collaboration on our shared advocacy on water security. We are committed to continue working with partners to reach more Filipino communities in the future,” said Cecile Alcantara, president of CCFPI.
Some speakers during the event echoed their support for Coca-Cola Philippines’ efforts.
“Coca-Cola has significantly contributed to water stewardship and in the pillars of water access, sanitation and health, watershed conservation, and water for productive use. They have demonstrated that the private sector can be pivotal in addressing water-related challenges,” said DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.
US Embassy in the Philippines Deputy Chief of Mission Y. Robert Ewing also commended Coca-Cola Philippines for its shared commitment with the US government “to providing water access, sanitation, and health services to underserved communities while conserving valuable water resources for future generations.”
Also one of the speakers, Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Public Services Committee, renewed her call for the creation of the Department of Water.
“Let us work together to lift the floodgates of bureaucracy, attain sustainable consumption and production, and ensure that clean water flows to every household like a mighty stream,” she said.