Sir Robert Swan creates awareness on Coco-Cola's sustainability initiatives

Coca-Cola Sri Lanka partnered with Sir Robert Swan, motivational speaker, Polar explorer, environmental leader and the first person ever to have walked to the North and South poles, to help create awareness and support Coca-Cola's sustainability initiatives in the country. Swan was in the country from the October 28 to October 31, visiting Coca-Cola's water and sanitation initiatives and speaking to various stakeholders on climate protection and on Coca-Cola's water and energy efficiency initiatives.

Abhishek Jugran, Country Manager, Coca-Cola Sri Lanka and Maldives, said, "Sustainability is not only crucial to our business but is essential in creating long term value for all our stakeholders. Coca-Cola Sri Lanka has been building and nurturing sustainable communities, through water and sanitation projects across the country. We all need to work collectively to give back to communities and Coca-Cola's commitments are a small step in this direction."

One of the programmes Swan attended as an inter-school PET collection competition in Biyagama, organized by the Company. The company has been working with the Ministry of Health and Sri Lanka Army, to help in post-flood relief, re-construction and rehabilitation programmes in Biyagama, after the devastating floods of 2011. T

he company has aimed to improve drinking water sources, poor sanitary and hygienic conditions, by distributing essential items such as food, drinking water, drugs, and dry rations to the communities.

Commending the efforts, Sir Robert Swan, OBE said: "Coca-Cola has consistently been doing trendsetting work across the global in the arena of water and environment sustainability. Together with their partners they have worked towards rebuilding communities, preserving the environment and helped in spreading awareness on climate, energy and environmental protection. I hope that through their efforts they empower the younger generation to contribute towards environment protection and I urge stakeholders to partner with corporates like Coca-Cola for the greater good of humanity."

Coca-Cola also has a long standing partnership with the United Nations Development Program for water and sanitation initiatives in Trincomalee and Polonnaruwa under the "Every Drop Matters" Program. The company has worked to improve the sanitary conditions of war affected residents of Kattandudy and has worked in partnership with the Central Environment Authority of Sri Lankan Government to set up a recycling plant in Gampaha district.