India: News

Coca–Cola Employees Spearhead Mass Awareness Drive on Water Conservation & PET Recycling on Radio Mirchi

In keeping with its efforts on spreading awareness about water conservation, Navneet Mehta, Director, Quality Operations & Environment Management, and Sanjay Sharma, National Director Manufacturing from Coca–Cola India expressed their views on water and environment conservation to Radio Mirchi, India’s largest FM channel.

Speaking to the listeners of Radio Mirchi, Sanjay Sharma said, “Coca–Cola India has always placed high value on good citizenship and is committed to protecting, preserving and enhancing the environment. At Coca–Cola India we have implemented nearly 400 rainwater harvesting structures across the country, spread across 17 states.“ He explained that rainwater harvesting involves a simple mechanism by which water on rooftops or water flowing on the surface is channeled into the ground by making a puncture on the earth’s surface. He concluded his interview by urging listeners to evaluate and implement this technique to save water for our future generations.

Navneet Mehta shared details on the importance of PET recycling. ”As part of Coca–Cola India's commitment to Environment preservation, the company has taken the lead in making PET recycling a self sustaining process, thus keeping environment clean,“ Said Mehta. He also told the listeners about the use of Recycled PET in items including caps, shoes, jackets, toys and more. He noted, ”We have conducted awareness programs in schools, colleges through seminar and audio visual medium like the film ‘Abhiyan’, as well as by displaying messages on truck backs, through posters and banners.

Similar mass awareness initiatives were organized by Coca–Cola in the other areas. A Painting competition was organized for the students across the 31 centers of SOS Children’s Villages where splendid thoughts on environment were echoed through vibrant colors. Centric to the theme of Environment, over 6,000 students participated in this competition. “We are happy to partner with SOS Children’s Villages in this initiative as it sensitizes young minds to be aware of their duties towards the environment.“ said Deepak Jolly, Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications.

An environment poster was also unveiled at the Green Fiesta, a mass awareness campaign organized in association with the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata. The poster included simple ways individuals can lead an eco-friendly life. This was followed by the tree plantation ceremony by Plant for the Planet, emphasizing the need of greenery for a better Earth. BIG 92.7 FM, another radio channel, helped spread these environmental messages.

A 3 km ”We Care for the Environment“ march, with over 500 participants, was organized with The Taj in Chandigarh. Coca–Cola also announced Project ‘Conserve’ with CII in North India to promote industry engagement in rainwater harvesting and community water conservation initiatives through collaborative projects, technologies and expanded information sharing.