What we are doing
- In order to make effective use of valuable resources in a sustainable manner, we will make continuous devise and improve ways to contribute to environmental protection.
- CSV Goals (Creating Shared Value)
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※The base year is 2015 and the target year is 2025 unless otherwise noted.
Water
- 200% : Water source replenishment. Focus on watersheds near our plant
- 30% : Water usage reduction by 2030
- Policy
- Policy on environment
The Coca-Cola System's Water Cycle
Within the Coca-Cola system, we regularly assess the vulnerability of water sources in line with the resource conservation guidelines established by Coca-Cola Japan and we develop conservation plans for the water we use at our plants.
These plans are the basis for our activities that focus on reducing the amount of water used in the manufacturing process, recycling what water is used in manufacturing, and replenishing* water resource areas.
The water we use is classified into two major categories: water used for manufacturing, and used in products. The water used for manufacturing-specifically for rinsing and cooling- is collected, processed, and then reused. After proper treatment, it is eventually discharged into rivers. For the water used in products, we work to return its equivalent to nature by contributing to better groundwater recharge capacity through activities that include planting trees, thinning forest undergrowth, flooding rice fields, and regenerating grasslands, as well as by cultivating abundant underground water reservoirs.
* Replenish(ment): Efforts to return water used in products to nature by enhancing the infiltration function of water source forests through forest conservation activities.
Plant Initiatives and Watershed Activities
Plant initiatives to reduce water use 30%
At our plants, we are working to reduce the amount of water used and to reuse the water we do use by installing production lines equipped with the latest technology, and by improving the manufacturing processes and plant equipment by monitoring them on a daily basis.
Wateshed activities to maintain a 200% replenishment rate
With the target of returning to nature a volume of water equivalent to the amount used for manufacturing products at our plants, we have also entered into agreements with local communities and organizations. Alongside members of local communities, we are promoting activities to enhance water source replenishment, which is the ability for the watershed areas supplying groundwater to our local manufacturing facilities to sustainably cultivate and store water.
The water cultivated through these activities will generate groundwater reservoirs over the years to come, and that water will make its way through rivers to our plants where it can be used for product manufacturing.
*As of December 2023
Conclusion of an agreement for the conservation of water resources in the plant's water source area
| Production plants | Water resource areas | Agreements with organizations |
|---|---|---|
| Zao plant | Zao town, Miyagi | Zao town, Shiroishi Zao Forestry Association, Enda Industrial Forestry Association |
| Saitama / Iwatsuki plants | Katashina village, Gunma | Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd., Marunuma Kogen Resort |
| Ibaraki plant | Ishioka, Ibaraki | Ishioka city, Tsukubane Forestry Association |
| Tama plant | Higashikurume city, Tokyo | Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Community Partnership Support Center (NPO) |
| Hachioji city (Tokyo) | Hachioji city | |
| Tabayama village (Yamanashi Prefecture) | Tabayama village | |
| Ebina plant | Atsugi city, Kanagawa | Kanagawa Prefecture, Atsugi city, Atsugi Forestry Association, Central Kanagawa Prefectural Government Center, Sagami River Left Bank Land Improvement District (Kanagawa) |
| Hakushu plant | Hokuto city, Yamanashi | Yamanashi prefecture |
| Tokai plant | Ena city, Gifu | Nakanohocho Area Council, Sakaori Tanada Preservation Association, Gifu Prefecture, Ena city |
| Kyoto plant | Ujitawara town, Kyoto | Kyoto Model Forest Association (NGO), Ujitawara town, Kyoto Prefecture, Tachikawa Industrial Forestry Association, Ujitawara Forestry Association |
| Akashi plant | Tamba-Sasayama city, Hyogo | Hyogo Prefecture, Hyogo Prefectural Greening Promotion Association (NGO), Tamba-Sasayama city, Tamba-Sasayama City Property Ward, NPO Hyogo Tamba Forestry Association, Hyogo Forestry Cooperative Federation |
| Daisen plant | Hōki town, Tottori | Tottori Prefecture, Hōki town, Tottori Hino Forestry Association, the district of Kanaya |
| Hiroshima plant | Mihara city, Hiroshima | Hiroshima Prefecture, Mihara city, Bisan District Forestry Association |
| Komatsu plant | Saijyo city, Ehime | Ishizuchi Forest Association |
|
Tosu / Kiyama plants |
Tosu city, Saga | Kyushu Forest Management Bureau |
| Saga Prefecture, Tosu city, Saga Eastern Forestry Association | ||
| Kiyama town, Saga | Saga Prefecture, Kiyama town, Saga Eastern Forestry Association | |
| Kumamoto plant | Aso city, Kumamoto | Aso city, NPO Aso Green Stock, Water Cycle Farming Promotion Council |
| Ebino plant | Ebino city, Miyazaki | Miyazaki Prefecture, Nishimoro District Forestry Association, Fumoto Public Forest |
Collaborative Initiatives with Stakeholders
Initiatives for Sustainable Water Resources at Tama Plant Watershed
On July 31, 2023, our company and Coca-Cola (Japan) Company, Limited. announced about the agreements reached in June with Tabayama Village (Yamanashi Prefecture) and Hachioji City (Tokyo). These agreements are centered around the shared goals of conserving water resources at Tama plant (located in Higashikurume City, Tokyo) watershed.
Tambayama Village is located in the northeastern part of Yamanashi Prefecture, where the Tamba River, the source of the Tama River, flows. In this village, where 97% of the total area is forested, forest maintenance will be carried out with the aim of conserving water resources.
Hachioji City has 16 first-class rivers that flow into the Tama River. In Kamikawa no Sato, which has been designated as a special green conservation area for the purpose of preserving a good Satoyama environment. In addition to forest conservation, we are also working on restoring wetlands such as fallow paddy fields.
With these agreements, we expect to achieve a 100% water resource replenishment rate across all 17 of our manufacturing plants.
Initiatives for Water
At all the plants of Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan plants are committed to effective use and recycling of “water used for manufacturing.” We also continue to work to return “(an equal amount of) water used in our finished products” into nature through water resource conservation activities to improve the water source cultivation.
Water resource conservation
All plants identify the water resource areas of their plant and conduct scientific research to see if there are any problems with the amount and quality of water, and such. In addition, we make our efforts towards water resource conservation in cooperation with communities and experts in order to maintain the ability to continue to further foster and reserve water in the water resource areas.
Water intake and water quality management
In order to maintain water quality that meets the standards of the Coca-Cola system, all plants thoroughly check for any problems in the water they have pumped up, and work on managing it on a daily basis, considering water, which is the basis of safe manufacturing of products, as one of the raw materials.
We strictly control the amount of water used to manufacture our products so as not to waste water, which is one of the blessings of nature. Groundwater pumped from wells on the plant premises is monitored in accordance with the Coca-Cola system ‘s unique requirements for both the amount and quality, and is properly authorized and controlled under the laws of Japan. Based on a well-developed plan supported by local governments, all plants measure and monitor the amount of water intake 24 hours a day, and report it to local governments on a regular basis.
Efforts for efficient usage
Water is used in our products themselves, e.g. for extracting tea and coffee, as well as in the cleaning and disinfection processes of containers and lines. We thoroughly control the amount of water used in the production processes, and also recycle the water used.
As an example of measures to reduce the water consumption, we have introduced a chemical-free Electron Beam system. By sterilizing empty PET bottles without using any chemicals, approximately 400 tons of water has been reduced at new lines compared to the amount of water used per day by the previous system.
Furthermore, some of our plants reuse the water used for various processes including rinsing and heating by a process to remove contaminants with a special filter called RO※ membrane for rinsing, heating, etc. again. In order to further improve water efficiency and reduce the amount of water every year, even just a little bit, we constantly review and improve the manufacturing processes and plant equipment.
※Reverse Osmosis: A water purification method that removes ions, molecules and other larger particles from water.
Wastewater management
Secondary treatment: Breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as active sludge.
Tertiary treatment: Removal of impurities using special filters, flocculants, or similar methods.
We work to ensure wastewater management aligns with local watershed cycle plans and regulations. This includes understanding local ordinances, water intake and drainage regulations, and potential natural disaster hazards. Our activities aim to maintain water intake and drainage quality that meets the standards of the Coca-Cola System. To achieve this, we have established voluntary drainage treatment standards that exceed legal requirements and implemented strict drainage controls to prevent contamination. Additionally, we fully comply with the Water Pollution Prevention Act and other water-related environmental laws and regulations.
At our plants, water used for rinsing containers, equipment, and cooling undergoes proper treatment before being discharged into sewers or rivers. For plants discharging to sewers, suspended particles are removed, and pH levels are adjusted to meet the standards set by local waterworks bureaus and regulations. For plants discharging water to rivers, water is purified on-site to comply with domestic water quality standards or the standards of the Coca-Cola systems, whichever is stricter. Treated water is stored in control tanks on-site and carefully monitored to prevent untreated water from leaving the premises.
All plants conduct secondary purification of wastewater, cooling water, and sewage water using the activated sludge process, which employs microorganisms to break down organic substances.
Some plants also carry out tertiary treatment to return water to nature with means such as special filters.
Water risk assessment
With the water risk assessment scheme of the Coca-Cola system, we utilize AQUEDUCT※ of the World Resources Institute (WRI) and grasp areas of high water stress geographically. In addition, we identify risks of floods, landslide disasters, earthquakes, etc. based on the hazard map published by local governments.
As a framework for identifying water-related risks at each plant through scientific research, we conduct the Coca-Cola system's own Source Vulnerability Assessment (SVA) every five years at all plants and obtain approval from hydrology experts. In line with the SVA, we formulate a Water Management Plan (WMP), and implement initiatives for the conservation of water resources in a planned manner after obtaining approval from management. We evaluate the progress and effectiveness of the plan once a year.
Water-related risks are reported at the Risk Management Committee, together with the level of impact and the likelihood of occurrence of regulations by local governments, in the form of a summary of Enterprise Water Risk Assessment (EWRA). In addition, water risks and vulnerabilities specific to the place are summarized as a Facility Water Vulnerability Assessment (FAWVA) report that includes risk countermeasures based on detailed validation results, and the report is utilized for medium- to long-term strategies such as sustainable water resource conservation, reduced flood impact, and more efficient use of water by the Coca-Cola System in Japan.
※AQUEDUCT: A global tool for water risk assessment developed by WRI. It is used to assess water risks of the area in which the plant is located from the perspectives of the amount of water, its quality, regulations, and reputation.
External evaluations
Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Holdings Inc. has achieved the highest A List rating in Water Security categories in the 2023 sustainability survey conducted by international non-profit organization CDP. This marks CCBJH made the A List for the first time for Water Security.
In April 2022, we signed The CEO Water Mandate, a global platform for water resource issues that supports corporate development, implementation, and disclosure of water sustainability policies and practices.
Initiatives for International Standard for Waters Stewardship (AWS)
Through the implementation of AWS, the international standard for water stewardship and use of water resources, we aim to contribute to the sustainability of local water resources by promoting the AWS standard, a framework for the water stewardship and use of water resources.
