USAID forum showcases Coca-Cola water programs in ASEAN
The Coca-Cola Company in the
ASEAN has become an industry model on how private entities can contribute in
the global campaign for water security and in mitigating the impact of climate
change.
During the Media Forum on Water Security and Climate Change hosted by the
United States Agency International Development (USAID), Coca-Cola ASEAN Quality
Safety and Environment Director Arnel Cabungcal shared the experiences of the
beverage company’s Replenish Program in its regional operations.
The forum was organized to
provide an overview and increase the awareness of media on the current water surety
and climate change challenges in the Philippines; and to encourage media and
journalists to take a more active role in reporting issues and solutions on
water.
The various water stewardship programs
of Coca-Cola in the ASEAN were handpicked by USAID to be showcased alongside
the projects and experiences of the local government of Zamboanga City, the
Cagayan de Oro Water District, and the Central Philippine University in Iloilo.
Under the Be Secure Program, USAID and Coca-Cola worked with various governments
to build capacity for long-term water security, improved access to water, and
the development of more resilient communities.
“Our goal is to give back an amount of water equivalent to what we use in all
of our products and their production by 2020. We work with external experts to
quantify the impact of our community water partnership projects. And we
continue to replenish more today and in the years to come,” said Cabungcal.
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More than 60,000 households have
benefited from over 129 ram pumps around the country.
Coca-Cola operations in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia are all water neutral,
which means that they are able to return to nature and the communities every
drop of water used in their beverage production. Other countries in the ASEAN
region, including the Philippines, are all progressing with local community
water programs to achieve country-level water neutrality while engaging with
stakeholders and consumers to share their water partnership story.
Globally, Coca-Cola has already achieved water neutrality in their beverage production
since August 2016 through 248 community partnership projects in 71 countries.
In the ASEAN, Coca-Cola also strongly supports watershed protection with 11
projects including the conservation of Thailand’s KlongYan watershed, the Plain
of Reeds in Vietnam’s Mekong River, and a five-year partnership with WWF for
the conservation of the Philippines’ Ipo Watershed.
The water replenishment program of Coca-Cola in the ASEAN centers on safe water
access and sanitation to rural communities in more established markets like the
Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, while countries like Laos and
Myanmar are providing water access to communities around their bottling
facilities.
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| In the Philippines, Coca-Cola provides hydraulic ram pumps to bring water from lowland sources to upland communities. |
In every ASEAN country, Coca-Cola has continuously partnered with governments
and non-government organizations, following the golden triangle rule – a
synergy of cohesive action plan among the private sector, government, and NGOs
that will directly benefit the communities.
In the Philippines, hydraulic ram pumps transport fresh water to upland
communities without using electricity or fossil fuel. More than 60,000
people have been impacted by 129 ram pump sites across the country.
In Malaysia, Coca-Cola has partnered with Raleigh International since 2006 to
bring clean water to over 8,447 villagers in Borneo Island through gravity-fed
water supply systems. Since 2015, Coca-Cola has been working with EKOCENTER to
provide clean water, solar power and community centers to villages in Vietnam.
The Company has also partnered with WWF since 2008 on watershed conservation
activities.
A partnership with USAID’s Indonesia Urban Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
(IUWASH) project has enabled Coca-Cola to construct rainwater absorption wells
in upstream areas that has benefitted 54,744 villagers. The Company is also
working with PACT to bring safe drinking water and basic sanitation
infrastructure to more than 12,500 villagers in Myanmar.
Coca-Cola has also partnered with Cambodian Women for Peace and Development
since 2013 to provide water access to 6,810 people in Phsar Chhang and Kompong
through water pipe connections. In Laos, The Company has provided a rainwater
harvesting system for 450 rural households using 1,200 large (2,000 liter)
rainwater harvesting jars.
In Thailand, Coca-Cola has been working with Utokapat Foundation, HAII, Population
and Community Development Association and others since 2007 to enable the
RAKNAM platform to reach over 1 million residents.
“While we’re proud of our progress in achieving water neutrality, we can and
will do more as we help to change the lives of people in underserved
communities across ASEAN,” said Cabungcal.
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