Coca-Cola in Nepal celebrates World Environment Day

Kathmandu, June 6 . On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Coca-Cola system along with partners in Nepal, came together to support and drive many sustainable environment initiatives within their immediate communities.

On 5th June 2018, marking the World Environment day,The Coca-Cola Company team in Nepal– both Bottlers Nepal Limited (BNL) and Bottlers Nepal Terai Limited (BNTL) led clean up and awareness campaigns within the plant vicinity. BNL placed dustbins within the Balaju Industrial District (BID), where the BNL plant is located.

The Balaju Industrial District Management Office is entrusted with the overall management and supervision of the industrial district. In coordination with BID, the team placed eight 150LHilltake dustbins around the area for collection of waste. Similarly, at the BNTLplant, the teamjoined hands with over 120 local communitymembers, to focus on cleaning the surroundings, along with awareness programs around Kerunga Ghole, Kandaghari Ghole and areas around the community.

Himalayan Climate Initiative (HCI), a long term partner of Coca-Cola, leading the Nagarmitra program strives to create a more resilient climate in Nepal’s urban areas. They are in the process of upscaling the PET recycling efforts through a new collection and sorting site in Budhanilkantha.

The enterprise runs a PET (plastic) waste re-collection and processing center which has helped recycle more than 3 crore (30 million) PET bottles so far. It intends to transform the plastic waste (a major environmental hazard) collection and recycling supply chain in the country to make it fair and transparent.

HCI organized a workshop for plastic waste upcycling, to the women of ward no 1 & 2 of Budhanilkantha Municipality with the collaboration of ‘Budhanilkantha Mahila Manch’, where 42 women participants were trained to make different usable items like Flower pots, Key rings, Earrings, Hand band, Compost bin and other artistic designs from plastic waste.

It was a one-day long workshop held at the premise of HCI- Social Enterprise center, Budhanilkantha- 2, RudresworTole. The work shop engaged the women on practical knowledge on upcycling of plastic waste and motivated them to recycle and upcycle plastic waste and reduce overall waste through creative, entrepreneurial activities.

Sushila Kathayat Giri, Chairperson of the Budhanilkantha Mahila Manch stated, “We used to throw these things as waste, but today we learnt that upcycling of waste can be turn into an innovative business and now, we cannot wait to start.”

Shilshila Acharya, CEO of HCI, shares, “One the one hand, waste management remains the biggest challenge for city authority, and on the other hand, innovative practices can create thousands of decent livelihood opportunities within Nepal. We at HCI are working towards it, along with our partners.”

For Coca-Cola in Nepal, sustainability is at the heart of the business. Along with packaging sustainability, the system in Nepal continues to advance their water stewardship practices globally, with significant efforts underway in Nepal. As a system, Coca-Colahas programs, policies, procedures and metrics in place to continue to improve water efficiency, meet strict wastewater treatment standards, evaluate the vulnerability and viability of water sources, and replenish the water used, giving back to communities.

All water replenish projects are designed to address water needs in priority areas and improve local water conditions. The Coca-Cola Foundation joined hands with WWF and is close to completing a project to improve livelihoods Engaging Communities and Replenishing Water to Enhance Livelihoods in the Indrawati Basin, Nepal. Similarly, WWF is restoring Beeshazari and Associated lakes: Enhancing water based livelihoods of the local community in the Barandhavar corridor in Chitwan.

The Foundation also supported WaterAid in piloting 2 innovative RWH & GWR structures within Kathmandu valleyIn an effort to galvanize urban water recharge, BNL partnered with Smart Paani to establish RWH & GWR in Teaching Hospital, SAJHA Transport, and Pulchowk engineering campus.

This year, The Coca-Cola Company announced its plan to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle or can it sells globally, by 2030.The company and its global network of bottling partners will tackle the ambitious goal, which is part of a holistic plan called “World Without Waste,” through a renewed focus on the entire packaging lifecycle – from how bottles and cans are designed and made, to how they’re recycled and repurposed.