Coca-Cola launches sustainable business approach

The beverage producer started marketing its “Live Positively” programme, which is described as the company’s commitment to making a positive difference in the world by integrating sustainability into business and operations.

Malcolm Gibbons, general director of Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam, was announcing the programme at the five-star Caravelle Hotel in downtown Ho Chi Minh City.

He said that through Live Positively, the company commits to make a positive impact throughout its seven sustainability pillars, including beverage benefits, active healthy living, water stewardship, sustainable packaging, energy management and climate protection, community, and workplace.

“As we grow our business in Vietnam, where we have invested more than $280 million to date, we will be using Live Positively to drive sustainable growth, foster more innovation, create value and make a difference for our stakeholders well into the future,” Gibbons said.

He revealed that the company was planning to invest another $200 million by 2013 to boost its business activities in Vietnam market, which enjoyed growth of 26 per cent last year.

“Vietnam is a fast-growing and very important market for our company,” Gibbons said, adding that the company has launched into the market 10 brands in total, including sparkling soft drinks, juice, tea, water, diary and energy beverages.

Among its sustainability pillars, the company has reduced its use of packaging materials in glass and PET bottles by 8 per cent since 2008, and set to further reduce the use of plastic by 10 per cent by 2015. Besides, it targets to further reduce energy usage by 10 per cent by 2015 following a saving energy programe running from 2004.

Coca-Cola Vietnam said it has invested some $2 million in community projects in Vietnam, and has aimed to reach some 10,000 among its 360,000 small businesses nationwide for a retailer training programme with basic business, finance and marketing skills.

Martin Gil, general manager of Coca-Cola Southeast Asia, told participants at the launching event that the company’s Live Positively, which was launched on the occasion of Coca-Cola’s 125th anniversary, was a way of contributing to the new wave of collective action and positive change.

Starting operation in Vietnam market since 1994, the beverage producer has established three plants in the capital city of Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City.