Coca-Cola continues to invest $4 million in new water conservation project in China

Xinhuanet, Beijing, May 16 (Wen Hong) The latest information from the Coca-Cola China system, the world's largest soft drink company, shows that as part of the corporate sustainable development framework "Positive Optimism and Better Life", the company will continue to invest 4 million US dollars through the Coca-Cola Foundation to further develop partnership projects in the field of water resources management in China with the United Nations Development Program and the World Wildlife Fund.

Huang Shijie, director of public affairs and communications for the Pacific region of Coca-Cola, said that of the new investment of 4 million US dollars, 2 million US dollars will be used for the water resources management project of the United Nations Development Program in China. The project started in 2007 and was jointly established by Coca-Cola, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Water Resources of China, and the United Nations Development Program. The goal is to improve the living conditions of farmers' families in rural areas of China, provide safe drinking water, and improve water resources management. The "Rural Water Resources Management and Safe Drinking Water Project" was carried out in Heilongjiang, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Guangxi and Liaoning.

The other half will be used to supplement its ongoing Yangtze River Partnership Program with WWF. As a model of cooperation between enterprises and non-governmental organizations, the project aims to improve the health of the important water source areas in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and the living standards of local communities.

Huang Shijie said that the additional donation to the partner project is part of the company's long-term commitment to water management. Coca-Cola China has invested more than 100 million yuan in water recycling and treatment facilities in various bottling plants to implement the "water neutralization" plan to save water. In 2010, the overall water utilization rate of Coca-Cola China's bottling plants increased by 38% compared with 2004. Now, Coca-Cola has established more than 320 formal partnerships with social organizations and government agencies in 86 countries around the world to carry out water management projects and protect water resources.