Coca-Cola South Africa: Making a difference where it’s needed most
Coca-Cola’s purpose has always been to refresh the world and to be there when people enjoy and share in life’s best moments. As we all look to renew ourselves during these shifting and unpredictable times, Coca-Cola continues to strive to make the world a better place and to build a more sustainable future for the communities in which it does business.
Coca-Cola’s mission is to create global reach with local focus, and South Africa remains an important region in its long-term growth strategy. “Together with our bottling partners, we have built a strong and resilient local business that is creating shared value for our employees, suppliers, customers and communities throughout the country. Investing in and becoming an integral part of South Africa has been one of our greatest achievements and strengths,” says Philipine Mtikitiki, Vice President of Coca-Cola’s South Africa Franchise.
“We will continue to invest in South Africa and the African continent to accelerate growth and expand the company’s beverage offering to its consumers.”
This is in line with aspirations to become a Total Beverage Company. As consumer preferences evolve, so does Coca-Cola’s expansion of variety of offerings to cater to many tastes and requirements.
“Our consumers have told us that they want wider choice when it comes to product offerings, more category options, and to be able to make informed decisions about what they consume. Our expanded portfolio offers beverages in a broad variety of categories and a range of low and no-sugar sweetened options,”
Built into the DNA of the company is Coca-Cola’s World Without Waste (WWW) strategy, an ambitious global sustainable packaging initiative.
“Our WWW strategy, through which we aim to collect and recycle a bottle or can for each one we sell by 2030, informs how we think about our packaging and how to contribute meaningfully towards creating a clean environment. We have invested in the innovative design of new packaging materials, increased our efforts in collecting post-consumer waste and we have forged strategic partnerships to ensure this vision becomes a reality,”
Earlier in 2022, the company announced the launch of JAMII, an Africa-wide, sustainability focused platform. JAMII houses existing and new sustainability initiatives in the areas of water stewardship, the economic empowerment of women and youth, and waste management.
“Through JAMII, Coca-Cola is leading the way, forming partnerships that will help champion change, pilot new initiatives, and help create a sustainable future through mutually beneficial partnerships,” says Mtikitiki, who is passionate about the advancement of talented women in the workplace and sits on the Global Women’s Council of The Coca-Cola Company.
The company has a strong track record in developing small, medium, and micro-enterprises along its supply chain and is committed to driving inclusive growth, as it continues to source as many ingredients, goods, and services locally as possible.
“In South Africa, this is especially important because of the role small businesses play in driving economic growth and supporting women and young people,”
Bizniz in a Box (BiB), an initiative run by local bottling partner, Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA), is dedicated to investing in and uplifting the township and rural economies, thereby supporting the company’s strategic objectives and country’s development agenda.
In the area of water stewardship, Coca-Cola aims to replenish 100% of the water used in the production of its products by managing water efficiency in its operations, supporting the conservation of natural water resources and improving community water access and ensure they adapt to climate change.
In South Africa, one of the water conservation initiatives is focussed on the removal of invasive alien plants that consume millions of litres of water each year, resulting in water shortages and permanent loss to an already stressed water system. Since 2019, The Coca-Cola Foundation along with strategic partners, invested in multiple projects that cleared 3 400 hectares in South Africa’s priority catchment areas, helping to replenish water to nature.
The Coca-Cola Foundation has invested a further $989,571 in grant funding into four new projects that will remove thirsty invasive alien plants from critical water catchment areas feeding major cities and towns across the country.
For Coca-Cola, sustainability and empowerment are a fundamental part of its corporate vision. It guides the way the company acts and how it does business and steers it to fulfil its purpose to refresh the world and make a difference.
“Alongside our bottling partners, we are committed to partnering with governments, communities and other stakeholders to contribute to a prosperous future for South Africa,”
Explore the rest of the Coca-Cola Journey
Water Stewardship
Waste Management
Economic Empowerment
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