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How sustainable is Sprite ?

Sprite & sustainability


Sprite
First milestones, should be better Click here for score rapport: 7 out of 24

Sustainability summary

Sprite has achieved the D-label. Brand owner Coca-Cola Company has started to take sustainability into account. Still, a lot more can be done.

Brand owner: The Coca-Cola Company
Head office: Atlanta, USA
Sector: Soda
Categories : Soda
Free Tags: Coca-Cola Company, Bonsucro

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What's your sustainability news about Sprite?

Sprite sustainability score report

Last edited: 21 December 2016 by Barry
Last reviewed: 21 December 2016 by Mario

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

1 out of 6
1. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? Coca-Cola Company (brand owner of Sprite) implements several measures to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, such as increasing the energy efficiency in manufacturing facilities, and furthering alternative energy solutions (see link, page 19 & 20). Source
2. Has the brand (company) already reduced or compensated the carbon footprint of its own operations by at least 10% in the last 5 years? Coca-Cola Company increased its own operations climate footprint from 5,320,000 tons of CO2e in 2011 to 5,580,000 tons of CO2e in 2015, which represents an increase of around 4,8%. Source
3. Is at least 10% of the brand (company) consumption of energy derived from renewable sources? Coca-Cola Company mentions using renewable energy for at least some of its facilities, but is not clear about the total percentage share, kind of resource and additionality of supply (see link, page 20). Source
4. Is at least 25% of the brand (company) consumption of energy derived from renewable sources? See remark for carbon emissions policy question 3. Source
5. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its absolute ‘own operations’ carbon emissions by at least 20% within the next 5 years? Coca-Cola Company has a target to reduce its climate footprint of "the drink in your hand" by 25% by 2020, compared to base year 2010. However, this goal is not related to Coca-Cola Company's entire own operations. Source
6. Does the brand (company) have a policy and reports on tangible results to reduce / compensate carbon emissions generated from the production chain (Scope 3)? Coca-Cola Company refers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the production chain that is beyond own operations, but does not provide concrete information on measures implemented, and results achieved (see link, page 19-20). Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

4 out of 12
1. Does the brand have the objective to only source sustainable sugarbeet/sugarcane or maize (for fructose syrup) for all its sugar containing products by 2020 at the latest, and does the brand already purchase sugar from environmentally certified sources? Coca-Cola Company communicates the goal to only source sustainable sugar by 2020. They also mention the sourcing of over one million tons of more sustainable sugar in 2016, between 15-20% of its 2020 goal. Source
2. Does the brand use environmentally certified sugar for its products for at least 50% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
3. Does the brand use environmentally certified raw materials (such as fruit, coffee or tea) for its products? Coca-Cola Company implements measures to purchase its other products, such as coffee, tea and fruits, from sustainable sources in accordance with standards like UTZ Certified. But, reference to soda products like Sprite is not clear enough specified, as well as accordance to which certification schemes concerning soda ingredients. Source
4. Does the brand use environmentally certified raw materials (including sugar) for its products only? See remarks for environmental policy questions 1-3. Source
5. Does the brand (company) publish the water footprint of its 'own operations'? Coca-Cola Company publishes the water use footprint of its own operations, which was at around 300,19 billions litres in 2015. Source
6. Has the brand (company) reduced its water use per litre of produced beverage by 10% in the past 5 years? Coca-Cola Company has reduced its water consumption per litre of soda from 2.16 in 2011 (see link, page 35) to 1.98 in 2015, which represents a reduction of around 8,4% (see link at next question, page 5). Source
7. Has the brand achieved an average level of water use below 2,5 litres per litre of soda produced? Coca-Cola Company has reduced its water consumption per litre of soda from 2.16 in 2011 (see link, page 35) to 1.98 in 2015, which represents a reduction of around 8,4% (see link at next question, page 5). Source
8. Does the brand have clear objectives to minimize the environmental impact of packaging, by reducing, re-using and recycling, and does the brand annually report on these results? Coca-Cola Company implements several measures related to more sustainable packaging, but does not publish the packaging volumes/weights per material type (see link, page 17 & 18). Source
9. Does the brand uses at least 10% of recycled plastics in its newly produced plastic bottles? In 2014, Coca-Cola Company used 12,4% recycled plastic in its newly produced plastic bottles. More recent data are not clear enough specified however (see link, page 38). Source
10. Does the brand use at least 50% of recycled plastics in its newly produced plastic bottles? See remark for environmental policy question 9. Source
11. Does the brand only use recycled plastics in its newly produced plastic bottles? See remark for environmental policy question 9. Source
12. Does the brand (company) have clear objectives to minimize waste, by reducing, re-using and recycling, and does the brand annually report the results? Coca-Cola Company does not report on the annual results of its waste reduction policy. Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

2 out of 6
1. Does the brand (company) have a policy to provide for fair labor conditions that applies to ALL own employees and those of its suppliers (including bottling companies) in low wage countries, which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labor, no child labor, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace? All standards are mentioned in Coca-Cola Company's Code of Conduct, respectively “Supplier Guidelines Principles (SGP)”. See also source link at next the question, page 2. Source
2. Does the brand (company) have a policy to provide for fair labor conditions in low wage countries: 1) a formal employment relationship; 2) a maximum working week of 60 hours including paid overtime; 3) a living wage; and 4) to form and join labor unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, to develop parallel means? 1. Not specified; 2. Hours of work and overtime are not specified; 3. No, only compliance with all applicable local and national wages; 4. No, only compliance with all applicable local and national laws on freedom of association and collective bargaining (see link, page 2). Source
3. Does the brand (company) purchase sugar from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. have no child labor and no forced labor, and provide a better living standard for the farmers and workers who produce the sugar? Coca-Cola Company purchases Bonsucro certified sugar cane. However, Coca-Cola Company does not specify the percentage share of certified sugar processed. Source
4. Does the brand (company) purchase other ingredients (such as fruit, coffee beans, tea) from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. have no child labor and no forced labor, and provide a better living standard for the farmers and workers who produce these additional ingredients? Coca-Cola Company implements measures to purchase its other products, such as coffee, tea and fruits, from sustainable sources in accordance with standards like UTZ Certified. But, reference to soda products like Sprite is not clear enough specified, as well as accordance to which certification schemes concerning soda ingredients. Source
5. Are all purchased ingredients (including sugar) certified to e.g. have no child labor and no forced labor, and provide a better living standard for the farmers and workers who produce these additional ingredients? See remarks for labor conditions policy questions 3 & 4. Source
6. Does the brand (company) maintain a published list of suppliers (sugar and fruit) and factories (including bottling companies), that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume? Coca-Cola Company does not provide a significant list of direct suppliers. Source