Our packaging and waste management

Inniciative for bottle depositing

The Slovak deposit system has reached a collection efficiency of 90% for PET bottles and can recycling in 2024. This system is operated by the Deposit System Administrator and the remaining packaging is handled by the Envi-Pak system

In the Czech Republic, the after-care of packaging is provided by the EKO-KOM system, whose recycling efficiency in 2024 reached 53% for plastic packaging, 84% for glass, 36% for aluminium and 89% for iron. The glass bottles of most of our non-alcoholic drinks are returned directly from customers to us thanks to a deposit and our own collection system. If they are too worn we recycle the material again.

In total, in 2024 we placed 12,862 tonnes of packaging on the market, of which 11,624 tonnes in the Czech Republic and 1,238 tonnes in Slovakia. All our packaging has been designed to be recyclable.

As part of our ecological design, we have long focused on reducing the amount of material used. In 2024 we continued to lighten our packaging with measurable results. By lightweighting PET bottles, we saved more than 76 tonnes of plastic material, and by modifying plastic films we reduced their consumption by more than 12 tonnes.

In selected PET packaging we use 100% recycled material – this applies, for example, to our Natura and Römerquelle products (for bottles, not labels and caps). Across the entire portfolio we achieved an average recycling rate of 9.4% in PET packaging placed on the market in 2024 (6.2% for domestic production). Our suppliers are also actively working with secondary raw materials – in glass, recyclate accounted for an average of 58% and in aluminium cans 64%.

Waste in our production facilities

We have made significant progress in waste management in 2024, with all the indicators below showing year-on-year improvements. At the Prague-Kyje plant, we processed a total of 2,521 tonnes of waste, all of which was either recycled or used for energy recovery – without a single tonne being landfilled. This is the fourth year we have held this landfill-free result. 

Let’s Clean Up Czechia and Slovakia!

In 2024 we organised a series of clean-up events in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in which we targeted the environment of watercourses and water bodies. In this way we wanted to underline our long-term commitment to the protection of water as a key natural resource. For example, we cleaned around the pond Kyjský rybník in Prague and in the natural swimming area Zlaté písky in Bratislava. In Slovakia, our employees also tried plogging – an activity in which garbage is collected during a run. All the clean-up events were carried out within the framework of our strategic partnership with the organisations Ukliďme Česko (Let’s Clean Up Czechia) and Upracme Slovensko (Let’s Clean Up Slovakia).

We pay special attention to our packaging, not only because it is one of the most important issues for our stakeholders, but also because its care significantly affects the size of our carbon footprint.

We will achieve zero emissions by 2040 at the latest

We regularly monitor and report our carbon footprint in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol standards, which categorise it according to emission sources (scopes). Locally, we are contributing to the climate goals of the entire Coca-Cola HBC Group through specific projects that aim to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2040 at the latest.

2.9% of the carbon footprint in 2023 was represented by Scope 1 emissions, a further 1.9% by Scope 2 emissions and the full 95.2% by Scope 3 emissions.

The year-on-year increase in sales and production has meant that the overall carbon footprint of our value chain has stagnated. Its total value was 143.20 kT CO₂e (S1 + S2 + S3). The year before it was 143.02 kT CO₂e. Nevertheless, we have managed to reduce our footprint in absolute terms in Scope 2 and to achieve a reduction in our carbon footprint per litre of beverage produced in relative terms. For 2024 this indicator stopped at 13.83 g CO₂e (S1 + S2)/litre. This is a year-on-year reduction of 13%.

How do we work with our carbon footprint? 
 

At Scope 1, we have been working to upgrade our Green Fleet, which in 2024 will continue to have mild-hybrid, plugin-hybrid, all-electric or CNG vehicles as its backbone. For these solutions we have also further developed the charging infrastructure in Prague-Kyje, where the parking lot modifications have created new charging stations, as well as our own solar panels that support charging.

Due to the increase in sales, our fleet of 463 passenger vehicles covered 15,629,344 km, which is 8.5% more than in 2023. Therefore, we ended up consuming 947,647 litres (or kg for CNG) of fuel. This is nearly 9.9% more than in 2023.”

Our own delivery vehicles covered a total of 518,857 km, consuming 21.47 l/100 km in the Czech Republic and 12.40 l/100 km in Slovakia. Most of our delivery vehicles were mild-hybrid Mitsubishi FUSOs.

In Slovakia, we are a member of SEVA – Slovak Electric Vehicle Association, where we share our experience with other member companies.

Due to the increase in our vehicle mileage and production volumes, our carbon footprint Scope 1 increased by 9.77% year-on-year, or 408 tCO₂e. In addition to the fleet itself, the major sources of emissions here are CO₂ leakages from beverage filling, refrigeration equipment in production and the remaining diesel units.

In Scope 2, virtually the entire emissions footprint comes from the steam, heat and cooling supplied for production. We supply steam and heat from the nearby waste incinerator in Malešice. Energy recovery is the most appropriate form of waste management after reuse and recycling. We managed to reduce this carbon footprint by 12.95% year-on-year, which is 403 t CO₂e. This reduction is a huge achievement of the ongoing Energy TOP 20 project, which is a collection of the most effective energy saving measures in manufacturing.

With the savings in Scope 2 offsetting the increase in Scope 1, driven by higher production volumes and sales levels, the CO₂ ratio in Scope 1 + 2 per litre of beverage produced in 2024 stood at 13.83g CO₂/l. This is a record low and a significant decrease from the 2023 result of 15.97 g CO₂/l.

Scope 3 generates the largest part of our value chain carbon footprint. An important contributor is the refrigeration equipment we lend to customers free of charge, whose electricity consumption is reflected in emissions. In 2024 we continued to replace older models with energy-efficient refrigerators with SmartCool technology, which reduces consumption by up to 57%. We already have most of these refrigerators on the market. In total, we replaced 6,572 cooling devices during the year and invested EUR 6,006,800 (over CZK 150 million) in their replacement. This resulted in a saving of 2,738 tonnes of CO₂, an improvement of 385 tonnes year-on-year. Replacing refrigeration equipment thus remains a key tool for reducing emissions along our value chain.

Ingredients, for example, have a significant impact on the overall balance, and our preferred suppliers are constantly trying to reduce their carbon footprint. On the distribution side, our carriers continued to modify their fleets. Effective transport planning has a significant impact. We also continue to benefit from the relocation of the central warehouse to the production plant in Prague-Kyje and the acquisition of the Natura production plant in Teplice nad Metují, which allows us to draw spring water from a local source. Working with recycled materials as described above helps us to reduce the carbon footprint of our packaging.

Although the measures taken under Scope 3 remain effective, the total carbon footprint in this part of the value chain has stagnated and there has been a slight year-on-year increase of 0.13% to 136,310 tonnes of Co₂e due to increasing sales volumes.

Certifications and sustainable suppliers

At Coca-Cola HBC Czech Republic and Slovakia, we apply clearly defined criteria in the evaluation of selection procedures, which also take into account the principles of social responsibility. Our suppliers are required to provide one of the following audit reports: system SGP AUDIT, Unilever URSA, SMETA 6.0, AIM-Progress, SMETA 4 Pilar, GSCP Equivalent, BSCI or EICC.

Some suppliers submit EcoVadis certification to our purchasing department. 

In addition, Coca-Cola HBC has a group-wide commitment not to use genetically modified ingredients or additives in all 29 countries where we operate. Further information is available here: Genetically modified organisms.

In addition to the aforementioned RFA certification, we are regularly audited against these environmental standards:

ISO 14 000/14 001 – Environmental management

ISO 50001 – Energy management

ISO 46001 – Water efficiency management systems

GAO – System audit of sustainability and quality

Other brands and ratings:

EKO-KOM Responsible company

SVA-SWPP – Vulnerability assessment and protection of water resources