Coca-Cola Hungary presents: How to save an island

Within the framework provided by a unique partnership Coca-Cola Hungary is taking part in the revival of the endangered Liberty Island near the city of Mohács (along the river Danube). The 47-acre island were threatened by siltation and disappearance endangering valuable natural habitats and the source of the regional drinking water.

As the EUR 1.8 million project comes to an end in 2013, we put emphasize to communicate the results of the previous 5 years and draw attention to the spectacular natural values of the Danube, the largest Hungarian river. In early November in all Cinema City cinemas in Hungary a 30 second spot was broadcasted about Liberty Island project, a wetland habitat restoration CSR project of Coca-Cola Hellenic Hungary.

The spot was screened in all the 176 Cinema City halls throughout the country before all the movies during two weeks in early November as part of our commercial agreement with the multiplex cinema network company. During this period almost 300,000 people got familiar with Coca-Cola Hungary largest water stewardship project.

 Spot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hAS86D6iB8&feature=youtu.be

To save the island, the  company, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Hungary, Danube-Drava National Park (DDNP), the local water works DRV, national organizations for the environment and water, and the city of Mohács have joined forces.  In 2007 Coca-Cola Hungary provided financial support to launch the program, which allowed WWF Hungary to successfully submit a tender in 2008 to the EU LIFE+ Nature program. WWF was granted a subsidy of EUR 1 million by the EU, enabling the project to start up in 2008. The 5 years of the project comes to an end in 2013 and now the company can proudly announce that the island has been saved and properly restored.

Coca-Cola Hungary contributed over EUR 300,000 to the project over a period of 5 years, and also offered hundreds of hours of professional and volunteer work by its employees to help the successful completion of the project. Total budget of the project has reached EUR 1.8 million.

The project was selected by IEEP (Institute for European Environmental Policy) to be published as a case study in a publication describing EU Natura 2000 investments, which only 10 projects have the privilege to be part of in Europe

Key results of the unique freshwater and nature conservation project:

– saving a natural island from disappearing

– securing pure, safe drinking water for the south part of Baranya county (about a million users)

– educational path created on the island

– local community gets back its “Danube bank beach”, which will serve as a safe area for bathing and having fun in the Danube