The Coca-Cola Company achieved the goal of 100 percent replenishing all water used in its global beverage production. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

To celebrate World Water Day on March 22, The Coca-Cola Company announced a holistic strategy to achieve water security by 2030 for its business, communities and nature at places the company operates.

Water stewardship has long been a business imperative for the beverage producer, which in 2015 became the first Fortune 500 company to replenish all water used in its global beverage production – five years ahead of schedule – and has done so every year since. As of 2019, the company has improved the efficiency of its water use by 18 percent since 2010.

"These are strong results, but we must do more," said chairman and CEO James Quincey, chairman and CEO. 

"While we remain committed to provide leadership on water through ambitious water stewardship and 100 percent replenishment, we are shifting our focus toward making a greater impact on people and ecosystems."

Coca-Cola implemented a "Reuse of recycled water" program in its plants. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The strategic framework focuses on three priorities: reducing shared water challenges around the world, enhancing community water resilience with a focus on women and girls and improving the health of priority watersheds.

Since 2014, Coca-Cola China has successfully achieved the goal of 100 percent "Water Replenish" annually, making significant contributions to the realization of the company's global goals. 

In the past decade, Coca-Cola China has actively responded to national strategies such as "Beautiful Countryside" and "Green China" and cooperated with partners such as the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Water Resources to promote nearly 20 water resources protection projects, including drinking water safety for communities, water source protection, sustainable agriculture, wetland protection and restoration, and agritainment constructed wetlands.

Coca-Cola China's "Clean Water Program" provides water purification equipment in Zhifeng village, Hunan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Coca-Cola China has explored and promoted the reuse of recycled water in its plants, so purified water can be reused for manufacturing, urban construction or people's lives.

In Shanghai, Coca-Cola China supplies recycled water to nearby companies for cooling and landscape irrigation.

In communities, the beverage giant launched the "Clean Water Program" with One Foundation in 2012, providing rural schools with water purification equipment and education on safe drinking water, and ensuring drinking water safety for teachers and students in rural areas. 

Coca-Cola China, together with WWF, promotes the Yangtze Finless Porpoise Protection Project. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Up to now, the project has attracted the participation of more than 90 public interest organizations and 18 enterprises, benefiting 1.74 million teachers and students in rural areas, according to the company.

In watersheds, Coca-Cola China, together with WWF and various social forces, has successfully promoted the Yangtze Finless Porpoise Protection Project, which is one of the demonstration projects for the Coca-Cola Company to join partners to protect vital water sources in the Yangtze River Basin. 

With the optimization of water quality in the Yangtze River, the quantity of finless porpoises, which number fewer than pandas, has exceeded 80 in the Tianezhou Baiji National Nature Reserve of Yangtze River.