3.18.2008 - 11:59pm ET

(CSRwire) SAN FRANCISCO, CA - March 18, 2008 - Business for Social Responsibility BSR) has released Drinking It In: The Evolution of a Global Water Stewardship Program at The Coca-Cola Company. Researched and written by Linda Hwang and other members of BSR's Environmental Research & Development team, this new study explores the role of the private sector in responsible management of water resources.

"By chronicling the journey of The Coca-Cola Company over five years, this case study demonstrates how companies can be proactively involved in water management along their supply chains and within their own facilities," said Emma Stewart, Ph.D., Director of Environmental R&D at BSR. "This report profiles one company's experience in advancing an integrated water strategy throughout its global operations and promoting the groundbreaking concept of 'water neutrality.'"

As a company that operates in nearly 200 countries around the world, The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) is keenly aware of the challenges facing the world's water resources. Today TCCC is the only organization in the world that has publicly pledged to achieve "water neutrality" across its global operations, which span more than 100 basins and sub-basins.

According to TCCC, its water stewardship strategy is an evolving learning process. "We recognize the challenge in a goal as complex as 'water neutrality' and have sought extensive external input from other companies, non-governmental organizations and universities as to how it might be defined," said Jeff Seabright, Vice President Environment & Water Resources at TCCC. "We're focusing on quantifying our global water footprint so that we can develop a process to return an amount of water equal to what we use in our operations."

Drinking It In reviews the drivers for TCCC's commitment to water resources management, examines the complexities of integrating water initiatives throughout global systems, and outlines implications and key lessons to guide other companies that wish to gauge their water footprints and evaluate potential risks.

Download Drinking It In at www.bsr.org/reports/Coke_Water_Study_March_2008.pdf.

About BSR
Since 1992, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) has been providing socially responsible business solutions to many of the world's leading corporations. Headquartered in San Francisco and with offices in New York, Paris, Guangzhou, Beijing and Hong Kong, BSR is a nonprofit business association that serves its 250 member companies and other Global 1000 enterprises. Through advisory services, convenings and research, BSR works with corporations and concerned stakeholders of all types to create a more just and sustainable global economy. For more information, visit www.bsr.org.

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