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The Coca-Cola Company, FEMSA and The World Environment Center Launch Cleaner Production Partnership in Costa Rica

The Coca-Cola Company, FEMSA and The World Environment Center Launch Cleaner Production Partnership in Costa Rica

Published 03-16-10

Submitted by World Environment Center

The Coca-Cola Company, FEMSA and the World Environment Center (WEC) announced today the launch of an innovative partnership to expand the sustainable development commitments of Coca-Cola and FEMSA's Costa Rican suppliers by reducing energy and water consumption, minimizing waste and raw material usage and lowering operating costs. This partnership is supported by the United States Department of State through its "Cleaner Production Private Sector Partnerships" program. Coca-Cola and FEMSA are both World Environment Center member companies.

The specific objectives of the partnership are to enhance sustainable development practices in local companies to reduce water and energy consumption, minimize waste and raw material use, and maximize operational savings. Through the WEC partnership, selected Coca-Cola and FEMSA small and medium-sized local suppliers in Costa Rica will be trained by WEC and develop action plans to improve their manufacturing operations and product distribution systems, resulting in energy, water, raw material and economic savings. This training, and the follow-up given to the participating companies, will allow Coca-Cola and FEMSA suppliers to minimize environmental effects while improving their productivity and competitiveness. The project is planned for 16 months.

"Sustainability is part of our long term plans in creating value shared by our business, our partners and the communities that we serve. By involving our suppliers in these activities, it is one more way for us to affirm our philosophy of corporate citizenship," said Pablo Largacha, Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications for Coca-Cola.

Arturo Campos, Director of Corporate Affairs for Coca-Cola FEMSA, stated that this project reinforces the commitment that the company has to environmental issues. "One of the main pillars of Coca-Cola FEMSA is to realize benefits to Costa Ricans through sustainable production throughout its supply chain," he said. "This alliance will doubtlessly be well received by our providers."

Terry F. Yosie, WEC's President and CEO applauded both companies for their leadership in applying sustainable development across their business operations. "What happens on the ground is the truest measure of a company's leadership and progress, and Coca-Cola and FEMSA are advancing their objectives through business initiatives that are making their supply chains more people and earth friendly."

This initiative is led by Ernesto Samayoa, WEC's Director of Operations for Latin America, with the direct cooperation from Coca-Cola and FEMSA.

About World Environment Center

WEC is an independent, global non-profit, non-advocacy organization that advances sustainable development through the business practices and operations of its member companies and in partnership with governments, multi-lateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities and other stakeholders. WEC's mission is to promote business and societal value by advancing solutions to sustainable development-related problems. It manages projects for companies across their global operations, builds executive level learning and competency in applying sustainable development across a number of business sectors, and recognizes performance excellence through an annual awards program. WEC is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and its regional office is located in San Salvador, El Salvador.

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World Environment Center

World Environment Center

The World Environment Center advances sustainable development through corporate business practices. Headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices in Europe and Latin America, WEC creates business solutions through Executive Roundtables on key sustainability challenges, builds capacity of small enterprises in emerging markets, and honors industry excellence through its annual Gold Medal Award. WEC is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization. For more information, please visit www.wec.org.

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