Essity is investing in enhanced efficiency in the company´s site in Kawerau, New Zealand, including the world’s first tissue machine running a fully geothermal steam drying process. Together with a reduction in pulp consumption, reduced waste and elimination of the burning of natural gas on the machine, the improvements will contribute to a reduction of carbon emissions by 23 percent from the Kawerau site.

“We´re setting new industry standards when it comes to sustainable tissue production. Investing in the world’s first tissue machine running a fully geothermal steam process is groundbreaking. By reducing our carbon emissions, we can offer our customers and consumers more climate friendly products”, says Magnus Groth, President and CEO, Essity.

The Kawerau site has served New Zealand’s businesses through its TORK products and New Zealand households with well-known brands such as Purex, Sorbent and Handee for over 65 years. Essity has 326 employees in New Zealand, including over 200 in Kawerau.  

Essity is proud to lead the industry for environmental and social sustainability performance across its operations in Australasia. Improvements include sustainable packaging supporting the Australian National Packaging Targets, certified sustainable fiber sources, ethical supply chains, and reducing manufacturing waste and water use.

The investment of approximately AUD 15m (approximately SEK 95m) is partly funded through the Government Investment in Decarbonizing Industry (GIDI) Fund, administered by EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) in New Zealand.

The production of tissue from geothermal steam is part of Essity’s work to use less energy and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Budapest, 12 October 2021 – Coca-Cola HBC AG today announced a commitment to achieving net zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2040. Via an existing, approved science-based target, by 2030 the company will reduce its value chain Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in scopes 1,2 and 3 by 25%, with a further 50% reduction in the following decade.  To address the 90% of emissions in scope 3 resulting from third party actions, CCH will broaden its existing partnership approach with suppliers.  Wherever the issue cannot be eliminated entirely, the business will mitigate these by investing in other climate protection measures.

Commenting on the announcement, Zoran Bogdanovic CEO of Coca-Cola HBC AG said, “This commitment is the ultimate destination of a journey that we started many years ago. It is fully aligned with our philosophy to support the socio-economic development of our communities and to make a more positive environmental impact.  Both are integral to our future growth. Although we don’t yet have all the answers, our plan, track record and partnership approach give us confidence that we will deliver”.

A Robust Plan

To achieve its goal Coca-Cola HBC will:

• Invests €250 million by 2025 in initiatives that aim to significantly reduce GHG emissions from business operations
• Decarbonise further direct operations by switching to 100% renewable electricity and low carbon energy sources through continuous improvements and innovations in energy efficiency
• Accelerate its journey to a more circular, lower carbon packaging approach by increasing rPET use, adopting packageless and refillable options, removing plastics in secondary packaging
• Provide energy-efficient and eco-friendly coolers to customers
• Reduce GHG emissions from agricultural ingredients
• Implement a “Green Fleet” programme to switch to low and no carbon alternatives

In addition, Coca-Cola HBC has introduced CO2 emission reduction targets as one of the elements in its long-term management incentive plans.

A Strong Track Record

 Coca-Cola HBC was one of the first companies to commit to and deliver science-based targets.  In the last decade, the company has halved its direct emissions and the CO₂ reduction plan to 2030 is already endorsed and approved on the 1.5-degree pathway.  In March 2021, Coca-Cola HBC was rated the world’s most sustainable beverage company by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the 5th time in the last 7 years, achieving its highest ever score. It is also ranked among the top sustainability performers in ESG benchmarks such as CDP, MSCI ESG and FTSE4Good.

Partnership

“We are delighted to work together with our customer Coca-Cola HBC on our mutual 2030 science-based greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and longer-term net zero aspirations. By working as a team, we will strive to cut the product carbon footprint of beverage cans in half by 2030.” – Kathleen Pitre, Chief Commercial and Sustainability Officer, Ball Corporation

“Crown is proud to be a supply partner of Coca-Cola HBC and of its commitment to sustainability. Their ambitious new sustainability goals align with our own initiatives, including our own Net Zero and science-based-targets, and we are fully on board for this journey.”, – Dr. John M. Rost, Vice President, Sustainability & Regulatory Affairs, Crown Holdings, Inc.

“As Tetra Pak also has a net zero target and SBTi approved 1.5o aligned 2030 targets, we look forward to working with Coca-Cola HBC to reduce GHG emissions and together achieve our joint aims.” – Markus Pfanner, Vice President Sustainability Tetra Pak

The new commitment is also endorsed by the “We Mean Business” coalition and Coca-Cola HBC has joined the list of companies supporting the “Race to Zero” initiative.

More information:

Juli Szegedi                                                                                                       György Márton

+36303385434                                                                                                  +36209312233

julia.szegedi@lwp.hu                                                                                          martongyorgy@lwp.hu

Coca-Cola HBC Hungary

Coca-Cola HBC Hungary is a member of the Coca-Cola HBC AG Group, which serves 615 million consumers across 28 countries. The Dunaharaszti-based company operates two facilities in Hungary that employ 1,050 people. Its overall production line provides jobs for nearly 13,000 people. Coca-Cola Hungary has so far invested HUF 125 billion in the country. The company is one of the most important players of the food and beverage sector, it ships its products to 26 countries. Nearly two-thirds of the materials used in production come from domestic suppliers.

As a result of the developments in recent years, Coca-Cola HBC Hungary distributes over 90 non-alcoholic beverages: carbonated drinks (Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola light, Coca-Cola zero, Coca-Cola zero lemon, Fanta, Fanta zero, Sprite, Sprite zero, Kinley, Royal Bliss), natural mineral waters (NaturAqua, Römerquelle), flavored mineral waters (NaturAqua Emotion, Aquarius), innovative waters (Smartwater), juices, nectars and fruit drinks (Cappy, Cappy Pulpy, Cappy Junior, Cappy Lemonade, Cappy+), ice teas (Fuzetea, Fuzetea zero), sports drinks (Powerade), energy drinks (Monster, Burn), (as well as plant-based drinks (AdeZ). The Rainforest Alliance Certified premium coffee, Costa Coffee is also a part of the Total Beverage Company’s product portfolio since May 2020, and Caffé Vergnano will soon join its product range. Coca-Cola HBC Hungary also distributes premium alcoholic beverages, including the Rézangyal, Jack Daniel’s, Finlandia, Bacardi, Famous Grouse and Campari brands.

Coca-Cola HBC AG

Coca-Cola HBC AG is a growth-focused consumer packaged goods business and strategic bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company. The Group creates value for all its stakeholders by supporting the socio-economic development of the communities in which the company operates and believes building a more positive environmental impact is integral to its future growth. Together with its customers, the company serves more than 600 million consumers across a broad geographic footprint of 28 countries on three continents. Its portfolio is one of the strongest, broadest and most flexible in the beverage industry, offering consumer-leading beverage brands in the sparkling, juice, water, sport, energy, plant-based, ready-to-drink tea, coffee, adult sparkling and premium spirits categories. These beverages include Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Schweppes, Kinley, Costa, Valser, Römerquelle, Fanta, Sprite, Powerade, FuzeTea, Dobry, Cappy, Monster and Adez. Coca-Cola HBC AG fosters an open and inclusive work environment amongst its more than 26,000 employees and the company is ranked among the top sustainability performers in ESG benchmarks such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, CDP, MSCI ESG and FTSE4Good. Coca-Cola HBC has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:CCH) and is listed on the Athens Exchange (ATHEX:EEE). For more information, please visit https://www.coca-colahellenic.com.

As result of the proceedings of the Hungarian Competition Authority, the retail chain establishes a new regional partnership programme for Hungarian small producers and small enterprises. The vast market provided through directly supporting domestic farmers and small family enterprises, and the nationwide network of the company, also enables creating new jobs. Shoppers will be identify these products from the red apple logo and the “Régiók Kincsei” (Treasures of Regions) label in SPAR stores.

“Our company prioritises supporting Hungarian producers and enterprises, domestic agriculture, which is demonstrated by the fact that almost 90% of all the food products we distribute are sourced from Hungary. The newly-formed network of local small suppliers will further contribute to this in practice. This establishes new purchasing and distribution routes, in addition to the existing sales channels. The Treasures of Regions (Régiók Kincsei) initiative provides tangible support to small family enterprises and private businesses trading with locally-produced agricultural products to take a step forward,” explained Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

Following the proceedings of the competition authority, SPAR is developing a new regional supplier system in 2021, with implementation fully completed by 2022. The program with a budget of 1.7 billion HUF will increase the sales opportunities of Hungarian small producer suppliers, and will also create new jobs. The aim of the new supplier system integrate many small suppliers carrying out top-quality production activities at the regional level.

The initiative seeks small Hungarian suppliers and producers that provide high-quality domestic products at affordable prices, and ensure product availability in the long term. They are viewed as a well-known and respected enterprises, “Local Heros” in their region, and they set examples for others with their products and activities, creating value that is compatible with SPAR’s corporate principles.

The programme directly supports strengthening local economies. The development effectively contributes to introducing domestic products to the market, which follow traditions and ensure quality and craftsmanship, providing small producers with an opportunity to develop, and also guides the international retail chains to increase the proportion of Hungarian products on their shelves compared to imported products. This initiative also aims to find the shortest supply route, contributing to sustainable economy and production. So far, the “Treasures of Regions” initiative is creating 23 new jobs at SPAR by the end of 2022 and it is also expected to increase employee numbers of the suppliers.

In order to extend the sales opportunities of local small producer suppliers, SPAR gradually establishes six regional supplier centres in major towns, including Nyíregyháza, Pécs and Győr, as well as Székesfehérvár, Zalaegerszeg and Hódmezővásárhely. The centres are already opening in the latter towns in 2021. The regional system targets new micro, small and medium enterprise suppliers in 90%, and also means an extension of current small producer partnerships of the chain. In addition, it improves the chances of domestic small local producers as a whole, supports the development of the local economy and stimulates the demand for local products. The company is also creating a “supplier academy”: it also helps suppliers with training in quality assurance, logistics, warehousing and marketing.

10-13 SPAR stores located in the vicinity of the county regional centres are linked to the new programme. These are selected to make sure that based on base area and retail space, range of products and turnover they can be the most efficient to support the initiative. The selection of the units also takes into consideration sales experience and ideal logistics routes. Producers that meet the requirements of regular goods delivery are primarily sought after based on the latter criteria, as it is in the common interest – of the new partner, the company and the customers – to get the products on the shelves as soon as possible, keeping in mind the quality guarantee as well. In each case, the retail chain relies on the local resources and capacities of the regions of each centre.

The company has established a dedicated interface for those who wish to join the SPAR supplier family. It is easy to apply using the already operating www.beszport.spar.hu website, by providing the requested information. The targeted provision of information to customers related to local goods is supported by dedicated awareness-raising goods dispensers in the stores – shelves in the INTERSPAR hypermarkets and display booths in the SPAR supermarkets. A website assisting customers is also operated, available through the following link: www.spar.hu/regiokkincsei.

SPAR considers it very important that according to the plans, following the complete establishment of the system, at least a hundred small producers will become supplier partners of the corporation, thus also extending the range of goods with domestic products. The addition of products designated with the red apple logo, from producers known by local residents will contribute to shopping experience and will develop a more direct connection between the stores and the consumers.

For more information please contact:

Márk Maczelka, head of communications

SPAR Magyarország Kereskedelmi Kft. ∙ 2060, Bicske, SPAR út

Mobile: +36 20 823 7891 ∙ E-mail: maczelka.mark@mmspar.hu