Coca‑Cola, LDA, and EPD Pledge to Plant 10,000 Trees to Support the Clean & Green Pakistan Program
05/09/2019
Driving sustainable business growth is at the heart of Coca‑Cola, and supporting local communities through its initiatves is another bet the Coca‑Cola is thriving to win. In light of the ongoing sustainability initiatives, Coca‑Cola Pakistan as part of 'Clean & Green Pakistan' - a campaign of the Government of Pakistan - collected approximatley 100 kgs of trash from Mushkpuri peak, which is a 2,800-metre-high (9,200 ft) mountain in the Nathia Gali Hills, 90 kilometers (56 mi) north of Islamabad, the capital city. Local residents and tourists highly appreciated this team effort and appraised Coca‑Cola’s sustainable environment vision.
Moreover, Coca‑Cola Pakistan, in collaboration with the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and Environment Protection Department (EPD), announced their support to protect the environment from harmful impact of climate change through a special tree plantation drive, the launch ceremony of which was held at the Finance and Trade Centre (FTC) in Lahore on September 5 and 16 2019.
“Climate change has emerged as a drastic challenge causing environmental degradation that is not only threatening environmental sustainability but also Pakistan’s ability to conserve its natural resources. It is therefore incumbent upon everyone to support the Government’s Clean and Green Pakistan program and plant more trees to counter deforestation and combat the escalating challenges of climate change” said Rizwan U. Khan, General Manager Coca‑Cola Pakistan and Afghanistan while speaking about the campaign.
The ceremony was attended by senior officials from both entities including Fahad Qadir Director Public Affairs and Communication, Coca‑Cola Pakistan, Dr. Faisal Hashmi Head of Government Affairs, Coca‑Cola Pakistan and Muhammad Usman Muazzam Director General, LDA, to mark a special commitment to plant over 15,000 trees during 2019 and thereafter pursue a much larger commitment of planting many more trees in the future.
While addressing the ceremony, Muhammad Usman Muazzam Director General, LDA, said, “As part of our ongoing efforts to highlight the importance of tree plantation, we very much appreciate the contributions made by the private sector, especially multinational companies such as Coca‑Cola, who recognize the need to step forward and play a key role for the greater good of our ecosystem. We endeavour to achieve more through this partnership for the reason that with trees we plant a hope for a better future.”
Salman Ijaz, Secretary Environment highlighted the importance of collaborative approach towards environmental conservation and it applies equally to all stakeholders in the society.
Coca‑Cola’s water stewardship programs have replenished 2.74 billion litres of water in 2018-2019 making Pakistan and Afghanistan, the first ever water positive region in the MENA. This essentially means that Coca‑Cola Pakistan is ahead of it’s 2020 global targets for water stewardship which is based on the formula of safely returning to the communities and nature an amount of water equal to what it uses in the production of its finished beverages. Coca‑Cola Pakistan has also achieved remarkably in context to protecting watersheds (including conserving and restoring water quantity and quality which includes 15 reservoirs, more than 20 protected springs and laying of more than 18,000 feet long piped irrigation system in Skardu. These interventions have effectively enabled access to safe drinking water for more than 300,000 people which has also resulted in a 75 percent reduction of water borne diseases in those areas.
About The Coca‑Cola Company
Coca‑Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company, offering over 500 brands in more than 200 countries and territories. In addition to the company’s Coca‑Cola brands, our portfolio includes some of the world’s most valuable beverage brands, such as AdeS soy-based beverages, Ayataka green tea, Costa coffee, Dasani waters, Del Valle juices and nectars, Fanta, Georgia coffee, Gold Peak teas and coffees, Honest Tea, innocent smoothies and juices, Minute Maid juices, Powerade sports drinks, Simply juices, smartwater, Sprite, vitaminwater and ZICO coconut water. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We’re also working to reduce our environmental impact by replenishing water and promoting recycling. With our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at Coca‑Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.