Coca-Cola & Heineken Fast-Track Beverage Decarbonisation

The REfresh Alliance brings together leading beverage companies, including Coca-Cola and Heineken, in a collective mission to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy across the supply chain.

This ambitious initiative highlights a growing awareness within the industry of the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and move towards Net Zero goals.

Educational and collaborative efforts

At the heart of the REfresh Alliance is a commitment to not just adopt renewable energy but to spread knowledge and facilitate access to resources throughout the industry.

Managed by Enel X, a company known for its energy solutions, the alliance provides beverage companies with connections to renewable energy providers, best industry practices and advisory support.

This kind of direct support simplifies the complex challenges of transitioning towards more sustainable practices.To further bolster its goals, the alliance has also launched an educational platform specifically for the industry.

This resource is designed to empower companies with the necessary skills and knowledge about renewable energy initiatives, creating a well-informed community that can stride confidently towards sustainability.

This strategic pooling of resources and information sharing promises to significantly reduce costs and energy footprints for individual companies, achieving economies of scale that would be challenging to reach in isolation.

The combined effort also serves to make broad-scale changes more feasible, quickening the pace at which the industry can meet its collective net zero targets.

This first of its kind structured collaboration signals a broader move within the industry to tackle climate challenges through united efforts.

Scope 3 emissions’ role in the alliance’s strategy

Scope 3 emissions — which stem from indirect activities in a company’s value chain such as the production of purchased goods and services, transportation and waste disposal — are notoriously difficult to manage.

These emissions encompass approximately 90% of a beverage company’s total carbon output, positioning them as a vital area for intervention.

The REfresh Alliance addresses these Scope 3 challenges by equipping suppliers with the necessary tools to switch to renewable energy sources.

This strategy not only helps in direct emission reductions but also ensures comprehensive supply chain sustainability.

The alliance’s approach to engaging more than 300 suppliers and facilitating detailed discussions on renewable options exemplifies this thorough focus on large-scale change.

Speaking on the REfresh Alliance’s mission, Ralf Peters, Chief Procurement Officer of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, says: “We have long recognised the need for industry collaboration to deliver the most impact and to accelerate the transition across our supply chains.

"I know from my experience across the Coca-Cola system that supporting our supply partners is a key part of our sustainability action – and that encouraging them to transition to renewables is one of the most impactful things we can do to help decarbonise their businesses and to do the same in ours.”
Hervé Le Faou, Chief Procurement Officer of Heineken, adds: “Scope 3 emissions are one of the biggest challenges that the industry faces in delivering on our Net Zero ambitions.

"We must work together to identify areas of our supply chains where we can pool our resources to accelerate this transition for our suppliers.”

Global ambitions and the path forward

Though initially focusing on Europe and North America, where renewable energy infrastructures are more established, the REfresh Alliance has a vision for global scale.

The plan is to invite more brands and reach into emerging markets, helping suppliers everywhere gain access to greener technologies.

This proactive work extends beyond creating links between brands and green energy providers; it’s about fostering a learning environment that builds long-term capabilities within the companies involved.

“The climate crisis is the most pressing issue of our time and the transition to Net Zero is becoming increasingly important," says Jane Liang, Chief Procurement Officer of Diageo.

"However, there is only so much we can do as individual businesses. The REfresh Alliance will drive collective action within the industry to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy.

"We are calling on all companies and suppliers within the industry to join us and support the industry in its transition to Net Zero.”

By spearheading this unified approach, the alliance not only amplifies the impact of individual company efforts but also sets the stage for a significant industry-wide transition towards reduced Scope 3 emissions and accelerated net zero achievements.

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