Douglas N. Daft, Coca-Cola chairman and ceo, said, “Con-sistent with the leadership role we took on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the 1990s, we will continue to lead our business system to use the most responsible cold drink equipment commercially available.

“We will intensify our efforts to support research and innovation to accelerate the technological development of more environmentally friendly equipment.”

The initiatives include:

By the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, Coca-Cola will no longer purchase new cold drink equipment using HFCs where cost- efficient alternatives are commercially available. This initiative applies both to refrigerant gases and insulation.

Between now and 2004, Coca-Cola will expand its research and development program to identify and field-test a variety of promising alternative refrigeration technologies.

Suppliers will be required to announce specific time schedules to use only HFC-free foam insulation and refrigeration in all new cold drink equipment by 2004.

In concert with the international Kyoto Agreement on climate change, Coca-Cola is requiring its suppliers to develop, by the end of the decade, new equipment that is 40% to 50% more energy efficient than today’s equipment.

In support of the initiatives, Coca-Cola said it has reached an agreement with Skope Industries, a large commercial refrigeration company, to develop the capability to produce large, single-door, high-performance coolers using HC gases, which have a negligible impact on global warming.

Publication date: 08/21/2000