Water as precious resource

WATER IS THE BASIC INGREDIENT OF OUR PRODUCTS, AND A RESOURCE THAT IS CRUCIAL FOR LIFE ON EARTH. THIS IS WHY WE ARE ESPECIALLY DEDICATED TO PROTECTING THIS PRECIOUS RESOURCE. 

Our strategy of water resources stewardship is based on three basic principles:

• water we use in production: we protect water sources supplying our plants, reducing the quantity of water we use in production of beverages and we process 100% of our wastewater to the level not harmful for plants and animals, 

• partnering with suppliers, in order to reduce impact on water resources in the entire value chain, 

• investing in projects of water preservation in the community, in order to renew the water we are using through innovative sustainable technologies, and also, to promote the awareness on significance of responsible water resources stewardship, to our employees and the public. 

For each bottling facility within the Coca-Cola HBC Group, a detailed analysis of water sources has been conducted. Based on this analysis, water resources stewardship plans have been developed to ensure their sustainability. None of the Coca-Cola HBC Serbia bottling facilities are located in areas significantly affected by water depletion, and furthermore, none of the water sources we use are affected by water depletion caused by our company.

Since 2021, our bottling plants in Zemun and Surdulica have been certified according to the standard of the Alliance for the Management of Water Resources - AWS. With this, Coca-Cola HBC became the first company in Serbia to be awarded this prestigious certificate.

AWS represents a global collaboration of alliance members made up of businesses, non-governmental organizations and the public sector. It is a globally applicable framework that encourages large water consumers to: understand their own water consumption, cooperate with stakeholders and transparently manage water resources.

In Coca-Cola HBC Serbia, owing to initiatives we implement, we've achieved a 54.4% reduction in water consumption per liter of beverage produced from 2007 to 2023. Recognizing that reducing water within our products is impractical, we prioritize enhancing water efficiency across our operations. This includes reducing consumption, promoting reuse, and consistently investing in cutting-edge technologies. By 2023, 3% of our total water usage comprised recycled or reused water obtained through collection methods. This water serves various purposes such as maintenance, toilet flushing, and irrigating lawns within our factory premises.

All bottling plants of Coca-Cola HBC Serbia operate their own wastewater treatment facilities, ensuring wastewater undergoes treatment before being released into natural environments. The quality of wastewater undergoes regular monitoring by accredited external laboratories and our internal facilities.

In recognition of our water resource stewardship practices, we have been honored with the ESG Leaders Award from 2024, presented by PwC.