In the modern economy, environmental sustainability is one factor in how businesses can stand out and thrive. Each month, the Salt Lake Chamber will highlight a Utah business making positive strides for the environment and our natural resources to encourage support and innovation.
Our feature, Swire Coca-Cola, USA, is committed to sustainability on both a global and local scale. Centered around three focus areas — planet, product and people — they are leading initiatives that make a meaningful difference. We met with Sustainability Senior Manager, April Furin, to learn more about their ongoing sustainability efforts.
When did Swire Coca-Cola start focusing on sustainability?
At Swire Coca-Cola we invest in and care for our planet and communities. We have long prioritized environmental stewardship, but our sustainability efforts have become more formalized and strategic with the rollout of our sustainable development framework, which began in 2020. This plan includes goals we are focused on achieving by 2030 in three key focus areas: Climate Protection, Water Stewardship and Packaging & Waste. We publish an annual, third-party validated Sustainable Development Report to track and communicate our progress.
What steps are you taking to reduce your overall environmental footprint?
We are actively reducing our environmental footprint through a comprehensive set of initiatives within our focus areas:
- Climate Protection: We are targeting a 70% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 30% reduction in Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2030. This includes transitioning to cleaner energy sources, upgrading equipment in our manufacturing and distribution operations, and engaging suppliers to reduce their environmental footprint too.
- Water Stewardship: We aim to reduce the water used in production by 15% by 2030 and are committed to returning 100% of the water used in beverage production to nature, including high-stress areas. By investing in organizations that work on conservation projects, such as wetland restoration, reforestation projects and other watershed health initiatives, we currently return 329% of the water used in production back to the communities across our operating region. For example, we recently partnered with Bonneville Environmental Foundation and Netafim to fund a drip irrigation conversion project in Howell, Utah.
- Packaging & Waste: We are working towards 50% recycled content across our bottles and cans by 2030 and aim to achieve zero waste certification for all our manufacturing facilities by 2025. Our West Valley manufacturing facility is already TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) certified for zero waste!
You’ve set a goal to use 100% renewable electricity by 2030. How is progress toward that milestone going?
We are actively pursuing this goal through strategic renewable energy infrastructure upgrades across our territory and renewable energy sourcing strategies. We are in the process of installing rooftop solar on our warehouse in Draper and are participating in Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky Program.
How can consumers play a role in supporting or participating in your sustainability efforts?
Consumers are essential partners in our sustainability journey. You can get involved by choosing to:
- Recycle Responsibly: All packaging is designed to be recyclable. Consumers are encouraged to recycle every can and bottle they purchase to support circularity. And always check with your local municipality to see what items they accept in their recycling streams.
- Use Recycled Content Products: Many Swire Coca-Cola products now use 100% recycled content, like our 20oz Coca-Cola Trademark beverages. By choosing these, consumers help drive demand for sustainable packaging, which can be recycled again and again.
- Stay Informed and Share: We regularly publish sustainability updates via LinkedIn and our website. Sharing these stories helps amplify the impact and inspires broader change across our communities.
Swire Coca-Cola is part of a global brand, but would you say the work you’re doing has a local impact?
Yes, Swire is committed to investing in and caring for the communities we call home. We achieve this through our sustainability work, as well as by investing in our local communities through sponsorships, in-kind donations and employee volunteer engagement. Last year, Swire employees donated more than 10,000 hours of volunteer work, ranging from community clean-ups and tree-planting to making food kits and care kits for the USO.
Do you have a favorite simple strategy to be sustainable in your own life?
One of my favorite simple strategies is practicing reuse in everyday routines. I’ve made it a habit to carry a reusable coffee cup and shopping bags wherever I go. I also try to repurpose items at home, like using glass jars for food storage or turning old t-shirts into cleaning rags. These choices not only reduce waste but also make me more mindful about how I can extend the life of things I already own. It’s empowering to know that sustainability doesn’t always require big changes, just consistent, thoughtful ones.
To read other sustainability stories, click here.
