Coca-Cola fully aware of environment
The Coca-Cola system in Indonesia lets its actions speak louder than words on the issue of protecting the environment.
The company's 12 bottlers in Indonesia have launched a number of programs aimed at increasing environmental awareness among employees and the general public.
"We consider the protection of the environment to be a major concern, particularly in Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region," says John Brady, Managing Director of PT Coca-Cola Indonesia. "The Coca-Cola Company is always one of the first to take a global approach to environmental problems. Our efforts, while global in scope, are executed locally in ways that are meaningful to the local community."
Coca-Cola in Indonesia is pro-active when it comes to introducing the most environmentally friendly technology at its production plants. With green awareness currently a dominant topic in Indonesian business, several bottlers are looking to the home front for the most appropriate technology.
Coca-Cola Tirtalina, the bottler for Kalimantan, West Java and East Java, as well as Bali, is pushing ahead with waste water treatment plants in all key locations. A new waste water treatment plant, designed by Indonesian environmental specialist PT Tirtakreasi Amrita, is already on stream in Bali.
The plant, which cost US$400,000 to construct, uses a biological processing system which includes aeration to sift waste water mass, neutralize the PH content of the water and empty treated water into a fish pond.
A plant in Surabaya, East Java, opened in Surabaya last week. East Java Governor Basofi Sudirman praised the waste water treatment plant as a benchmark in industrial concern for the environment and one which other companies should follow.
Another plant in Bandung, West Java, will be in operation before the end of the year.
"I believe these plants are important because they set a good example for other companies involved in the industrial sector," says Daryono, Group Technical Development Manager. "They show that Indonesia can find the environmental know-how in its own back yard."
The waste water treatment plant joins four others in Indonesia. A US$300,000 plant using an aerobic system to treat waste water was established by North Sumatra and Aceh bottler PT Coca-Cola Pan Java bottling company. Advanced technology is also used in the PT Coca-Cola Indonesia concentrate plant in Cilangkap, West Java, the Coca-Cola Pan Java plant in Central Java, and another plant completed in October 1993 in Jakarta.
Contests
Coca-Cola bottlers in Indonesia hit on a novel idea to launch the new marketing theme of Always Coca-Cola and at the same time instill concern for the environment in youngsters when they organized children's art contests in Yogyakarta, Central Java, and Denpasar, Bali, two of the country's most renowned cultural cities.
In the first of what are slated to be annual events, contests drew students to participate on the theme of "How to Keep the Environment Clean" in 1993. Children in Yogyakarta colored their images on individual canvases but in Bali a 350-meter canvas stretched around the city square. Each child was allocated a section and by the end of the day the canvas was adorned with a stunning array of colorful images. The Bali canvas is believed to be the world's longest painting devoted to the theme of the environment.
Last year, the Coca-Cola organization in Indonesia also planted more than 50,000 trees across the nation, including 5,000 to Jakarta's Green Project, which was aimed at planting one million trees in a nationwide drive.
Vince Monterola, Managing Director of Jakarta bottler PT Djaya Beverages Bottling Company, said the donation signified the good relations between Coca-Cola and its customers. He added that employees of the various companies will take care of the trees, which have been planted throughout Jakarta, for at least six months.
Coca-Cola bottlers in Jakarta also took part in a mass cleanup of debris at the Sunda Kelapa Island the same year. The environmental sweep was organized by the United Nations office in Jakarta and Lembaga Swadaya Masyarakat, a non-profit community organization.
Coca-Cola bottlers also pay attention to proper disposal of garbage. Chairman of PT Coca-Cola Tirtalina Bottling Company Edi Kowara personally presented 50 garbage cans to the Bandung City government to assist them their efforts to keep the City of Flowers clean.