Coca-Cola today announced four global business commitments it claims will contribute to healthier, happier and more active communities in the more than 200 countries where it does business.
The company has pledged to offer low or no-calorie beverage options in every market, while also providing transparent nutrition information that feature calories on the front of all packages. To help promote exercise, Coca-Cola will support physical activity programs in every country in which it operates. The company also will now market responsibly, which includes no advertising to children under 12 anywhere in the world.
“Obesity is today’s most challenging health issue, affecting nearly every family and community across the globe,” said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company. “It is a global societal problem which will take all of us working together and doing our part. We are committed to being part of the solution, working closely with partners from business, government and civil society.”
In commemoration of the 127th anniversary of Coca-Cola, Muhtar Kent made the global announcement alongside Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and City of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed to kick off a series of programs designed to help get Georgians moving. Today’s announcement in Georgia builds on recent partnerships the Company has undertaken in Chicago, San Antonio and other cities.
Coca-Cola says it already has taken a number of important steps, including product and packaging innovations for smaller portion sizes with the expansion of mini-cans in the United States, Australia, Canada, Korea and Thailand. The company claims its system currently supports hundreds of active, healthy living programs in more than 115 countries reaching millions of people, and is putting calories on the front of nearly all our beverages worldwide.
The company also has committed to publicly and actively measure the scale and reach of its efforts on its Coming Together website. The digital platform provides further details about the company’s global commitments and invites people to learn more about what the company is doing, track its progress, post feedback and exchange ideas on how we can collectively promote choice, energy balance and movement.
In related news, the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation recently joined forces with WaterAid to increase accessibility to safe drinking water for one of the poorest suburbs of Burkina Faso’s capital city of Ouagadougou and in two rural communities in southern Ethiopia.
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Founder & Principal Consultant, Hower Impact
Mike Hower is the founder of Hower Impact — a boutique consultancy delivering best-in-class strategic communication advisory and support for corporate sustainability, ESG and climate tech.
Published May 8, 2013 10am EDT / 7am PDT / 3pm BST / 4pm CEST