Santo Domingo.- As part of its sustainability strategy, the Coca-Cola System, comprised of the Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partner in the country, Bepensa Dominicana, led a cleanup campaign at Los Pescadores Beach, seeking to protect the ecosystem and return the collected waste to the value chain.
The initiative is part of the various activities carried out annually by companies through the Circular Seas program, through which institutions seek to contribute to reducing waste in marine environments, foster a recycling culture, and collect information that serves as a guide for the future. The event was attended by the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Orlando Jorge Mera, who welcomed the fact that private sector companies are properly managing waste and affirmed that the country is entering a new era of awareness about waste management.
“The Coca-Cola System has been characterized as an ally of the Ministry of the Environment in the task of raising awareness and drawing attention to environmental education.”
Juan Amell, Director of Corporate Public Affairs at Bepensa Dominicana, explained that the Coca-Cola System has been implementing these types of events for more than 15 years and highlighted the positive impact they have on the country.
“Circular Seas is part of the Coca-Cola System's commitment to sustainability. It is a project aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 12 on responsible production and consumption, Goal 14 on life below water, and SDG 17, which addresses building partnerships for sustainable development.”, Amell commented.
He also highlighted the companies' commitment to sustainability and recycling, noting that three out of every ten bottles they sell are returnable glass containers, offering an option with a positive impact on the environment and contributing to a more sustainable world through the choice of this type of packaging and the incorporation of certain habits that promote recyclability.
Santiago Carrasco, general manager for the Dominican Republic and Haiti at The Coca-Cola Company, pointed out that the initiative implemented, in addition to coastal cleanups, includes citizen awareness and the promotion of the circular economy.
“Every day, at the Coca-Cola System, we're moving toward a more sustainable model, committed to the future of people and the planet, which has been the cornerstone of our global sustainability strategy.”, concluded Carrasco.
He indicated that this activity is part of the Company's global initiative called "A World Without Waste," with which they have made a commitment since 2018 to collect and recycle the equivalent of 100% of the packaging they place on the market by 2030.
Volunteers from the Ministries of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, and Tourism, as well as from the National District Mayor's Office, the Center for Development and Competitiveness (PROINDUSTRIA), the Dominican Institute for Quality (INDOCAL), the National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (Pro Consumidor), and members of the business, education, and academic sectors participated in the event.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a Whole Foods Beverage Company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company's purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. Our brand portfolio includes Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, and other beverages. Our hydration, sports, coffee, and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Gold Peak, Honest, and Ayataka. Our nutrition, juice, dairy, and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, Innocent, Del Valle, Fairlife, and AdeS. We are constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our beverages to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact the lives of people, communities, and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices, and carbon emission reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, providing economic opportunities to local communities around the world. To learn more, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About Bepensa Dominicana
Bepensa in the Dominican Republic is the local bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company. A leader in the non-alcoholic beverage sector since 2006, Bepensa offers Dominicans high-quality products and stands out for its modern processes, social responsibility, and competitiveness in the market, thus contributing to the development of the nation and the communities where it operates. The company has invested more than $300 million in technology, human resources, machinery, and infrastructure.
It currently has a production plant, 16 distribution centers, and more than 300 delivery routes, serving more than 65,000 customers directly. Bepensa Dominicana is the only company in the Dominican Republic to operate with four international certifications and the first company in the industrial sector to obtain the "Igualando RD" Platinum Seal. In 2020, the company obtained Great Place to Work certification for the fifth time, as a result of its personnel management, practices, and internal initiatives.
