Helping customers get On the Road to Net Zero

Today’s consumers are no longer satisfied with businesses paying lip service to sustainability. They’re looking for organisations in every sector to take action. From the products they buy – how they’re produced and make their way to supermarket shelves – to the carbon footprint of the meal they produce in their home or eat at a pub or restaurant, what was once considered a niche concern has rapidly moved into the mainstream. In fact, 70% of Brits are actively trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle, and over a third (34%) of UK pub and restaurant goers are prepared to spend more than usual in venues with strong sustainability credentials.

But the reality is that while the will is there, for many small and medium-sized businesses in particular, it can be difficult to know where to start. This is especially true in the current landscape where margins are tight and, despite consumers often having good intentions around choosing sustainable options, cost remains a key priority.

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CCEP’s journey towards net zero

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) is committed to reducing carbon emissions and has an ambition to reach net zero by 2040. The business wants to grow sustainably and support others in making the transition to more sustainable practices.

Across its operations, CCEP has been making changes both big and small to help achieve its sustainability goals. Recently, the business has accelerated its work to reduce its own carbon emissions and taken strides to bring suppliers, partners, and customers on the journey with them. Initiatives include investing in replacing Material Handling Equipment with electric equivalents, and projects to reduce the effects of packaging on the environment—most notably rolling out the launch of attached caps on plastic bottles across CCEP’s core range in GB.

This supports further changes the business has made to ensure consumers have more opportunities to re-use or recycle packaging where possible, including the acceleration of recycled plastic in 500ml plastic bottles from 50% to 100% content.

CCEP has a clear plan on Scope one, two, and three emissions as part of its sustainability action plan This is Forward, but they acknowledge that not all businesses they work with have the resources to put a similar programme in place. Indeed, according to The British Standards Institution’s Net Zero Barometer, SMEs (including hospitality owners) do not feel able to deliver on the government’s net zero ambitions due to challenges including a lack of in-house expertise and resources.

As one of the largest soft drink companies in the world, CCEP is therefore determined to work with suppliers and customers to help them on their journey and ensure that they have all the tools needed at their disposal to get started on a path to net zero.

That’s why collaborating through initiatives like Net Zero Pubs, Bars and Restaurants—which provides guidance and support for hospitality owners on the actions needed to reduce their carbon footprint and a standard against which they can be certified—is so important. CCEP has been a crucial partner, alongside Pernod Ricard, since Net Zero Now’s inception in 2021, and has seen others get on board, including Heineken in recent months. 

Michael Christopherson, Senior Manager – Commercial Sustainability at CCEP, said the initiative has gained a lot of traction over the past few years: 

“Over the last three years, CCEP has supported Net Zero Now, which has signed up a hugely impressive 3,373 hospitality sites, but there is still a long way to go. 

This is particularly important in the current climate, and with legislation on the horizon, including the Simpler Recycling Legislation coming into effect in March 2025, which will be a significant adjustment for many hospitality businesses.”

Recruiting more businesses

Over the years they’ve been able to recruit some brilliant hospitality outlets and brands into the initiative, including the Hard Rock Café and Liars Club. Another great example is the Lisini Pub Group in Lanarkshire, with a portfolio of hotels, bars, and restaurants. The group was becoming increasingly aware of the need to tackle their carbon footprint and engaged with the Net Zero Now initiative to start their carbon reduction journey.

Across its four sites, the brand was generating nearly 5,000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year and by starting to make small changes, for example switching to low-energy bulbs and installing sensor lights, the team reduced their emissions by 47.5 tonnes in the first year alone. It became the first hospitality company in Scotland to be certified as ‘On the Road to Net Zero’.

Christopherson added: “We’re proud to have partners like Lisini on the net zero journey with us, and the impact of the steps they’ve put in place underscores the power of collective action, proving that together, we can create lasting, positive environmental benefits.”

A continued partnership for change

We’re proud to be partnering with CCEP, which is supporting a range of businesses in accelerating their journeys towards net zero. While This is Forward is primarily centred around how they can reduce their impact as a business, CCEP also wants to use the scale and position of their brand to be a leader within the industry. They want to help spark significant change, and they’re always looking to bring others along with them on this journey.

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