Coca-Cola HBC Reports Latest Progress in Corporate Responsibility

Published 06-15-05

Submitted by Coca-Cola HBC

Coca-Cola HBC, one of the world's leading providers of non-alcoholic beverages and one of the largest bottlers of products of The Coca-Cola Company, has issued its Social Responsibility Report for 2004. The Report, which was prepared in accordance with the 2002 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), focuses on the company's progress in conducting its business in a responsible and sustainable manner.

In addition to a section on Governance and Management, which details Coca-Cola HBC's belief that strong corporate governance and ethics are essential to business success, the Report contains information on four areas used as a framework for defining its corporate activities: the Workplace, the Environment, the Marketplace, and the Community.

The Workplace section presents initiatives taken by Coca-Cola HBC to provide equal opportunity, to respect diversity, to ensure stringent standards of workplace safety and health, and to develop a highly motivated, productive and committed workforce.

The Environment section presents progress on ways that Coca-Cola HBC conducts its business to help protect and preserve the environment, and on how it is integrating principles of environmental stewardship and sustainable development into its business decisions and processes.

The Marketplace section outlines how Coca-Cola HBC products and services meet the beverage needs of its consumers, while providing sound and rewarding business opportunities and benefits for its customers, suppliers, distributors and local communities.

The Community section provides examples of Coca-Cola HBC's commitment to invest time, expertise and resources to ensure economic opportunity, to improve the quality of life, and to foster good will in its communities through locally relevant initiatives.

Key 2004 events in the Report include:

Becoming a participant in the UN Global Compact, with the company pledging to support the compact's ten principles with respect to human rights, labour standards, protection of the environment and anti-corruption.

Adopting the Future 500 CAP Gap survey to informally benchmark its performance against 17 major global accountability and social reporting standards. This survey was undertaken in 10 countries in 2004 and will be completed in the remaining 16 countries where Coca-Cola HBC has operations in 2005 as part of creating a baseline for future programmes.

Formalising its policies on human rights, equality, HIV/AIDS, health and safety, quality and environment, as well as supplier guiding principles.

Launching an occupational health and safety initiative to achieve OHSAS 18001 certification of all bottling plants by 2007.

Achieving ISO 9001: 2000 certification in 52 of 53 European carbonated soft drink plants.

Reducing water use in its plants by 4%, narrowly missing the targeted 5% reduction.

Reducing energy use in its plants by 5%.

Increased solid waste recycling in its plants by 5%.

In addition to having used GRI guidelines, the Coca-Cola HBC 2004 Social Responsibility Report includes independent verification of key environmental, health and safety data.
Coca-Cola HBC also uses a two-pronged consultation approach to monitor stakeholder viewpoints: an annual, Group-wide cultural survey that measures employee attitudes about the business and management, and a Group-wide customer satisfaction survey that will be rolled out in 2005. Both will be used to track progress in how well the company is living its values.

The Coca-Cola HBC 2004 Social Responsibility Report can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF on the company's website: www.coca-colahbc.com.

Printed copies may also be ordered through the website.

Coca-Cola HBC
Coca-Cola HBC, which employs over 37,000 people, is one of the world's largest bottlers of products of The Coca-Cola Company. Headquartered in Athens, Coca-Cola HBC serves a population of more than 500 million people in 26 countries. Of these countries, 25 are in Europe and 14 are members of the European Union. Coca-Cola HBC manufactures over 145 carbonated and 240 non-carbonated beverages. In 2004, the company's net sales were Â€4,248 million. Coca-Cola HBC shares are listed on the Athens, London, New York and Sydney stock exchanges.

Coca-Cola HBC

Coca-Cola HBC is the second-largest bottler of the brands of The Coca-Cola Company in terms of volume with sales of more than 2 billion unit cases. It has a broad geographic footprint with operations in 28 countries serving a population of approximately 585 million people. Coca-Cola HBC offers a diverse range of non-alcoholic ready to drink beverages in the sparkling, juice, water, sport, energy, tea and coffee categories. Coca-Cola HBC is committed to promoting sustainable development in order to create value for its business and for society. This includes providing products that meet the beverage needs of consumers, fostering an open and inclusive work environment, conducting its business in ways that protect and preserve the environment and contribute to the socio-economic development of the local communities.

Coca-Cola HBC has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: CCH) and its shares are listed on the Athens Exchange (ATHEX: EEE). Coca-Cola HBC’s American depositary shares (ADSs) are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CCH). Coca-Cola HBC is included in the Dow Jones Sustainability and FTSE4Good Indexes. For more information, please visit www.coca-colahellenic.com.

Coca-Cola HBC Reports Latest Progress in Corporate Responsibility

Coca-Cola HBC Reports Latest Progress in Corporate Responsibility

Coca-Cola HBC

Coca-Cola HBC

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