Editor's note- ESG, which contains sustainable ideas through environmental and social responsibility and management, is taking a place as mandatory, not an option. Yet, quite a number of businesses are still ignoring this matter. ESG management is directly linked to consumption value. Thus, we are reporting on the steps of leading ESG management businesses this year, hoping to bring messages to both consumers and businesses that are not aware of their importance.

[Consumerwide - Jinil Kang Reporter / Yohan Bok Reporter] ESG keyword of Coca-Cola Korea was environment and next generation this year.

Coca-Cola has used recycled materials in all their products since the 2018 environmental project "World without Waste," which raised issues about plastic waste. Also, lead activities for the next generation.

E: Environment... Resource Circulation

One of the ESG core keywords for Coca-Cola Korea was resource circulation. And Coca-Cola has been making various efforts to expand the use of recycled PET worldwide. In May, Coca-Cola Korea applied r-PET, which includes 10% of recycled plastic that is made out of drinks distributed in domestic areas, to Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero 1.25-litre products. This was possible due to policy revisions by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2022 regarding the use of recycled material in drinking pet. Coca-Cola Korea has applied only 10% recycled plastic to the first r-pet product in Korea, concerning the safety and quality of the Bottle-to-Bottle project (which used transparent drink pet returns as new drink pets) while reducing the weight of the package, which reduced the use of virgin plastic to 21% (8.6g from 41g). Coca-Cola Korea plans to make positive changes in cooperation with the government and consumers while speeding up the development of sustainable packages so that the Bottle to Bottle project might expand and settle in Korea.

Coca-Cola Korea has facilitated the Wonderful Campaign Season 4 (plastic used once more) this year based on positive responses from Season 1 in 2020. The Wonderful Campaign is a resource circulation campaign that leads to right recycling, focusing on the participation of consumers. Emart, Blackyark, Yogiyo, SSG.com, Gmarket, WWF, and Terracycle cooperated in Season 4. A total of 2700 teams (individual 2,250, group 450 teams) participated, and participants who completed the mission were given a Coca-Cola camping apron, which is made out of r-PET Coca-Cola and Zero products released in Korea this year and recycled denim fabric. This entire process was a chance to experience the result of efficient circular economy through bottle-to-bottle and fabric-to-fabric projects. 17.6 tonnes of transparent drink pets were collected through Season 4, and they are going to be recycled as rPET raw material. The participating competition reached 11:1, and the total collection of drink pet bottles was reported as 88%, which means 8.8 people out of 10 completed the mission (recycling and collecting on the Zerowaste box). During the bottle-to-bottle experimental zone, 9500 consumers visited.

S: Next generation... Various social contribution activities.

The second ESG keyword of Coca-Cola Korea is next generation, and they initiated various social contribution activities in relation to it. In February, Coca-Cola Korea signed a treaty to secure water resources through forest making with Yeojusi, K-Water Hangan Basin Headquarter, WWF-Korea, Korea Ecological and Environmental Research Institute, and Yeoju City Forestry Association. These six institutions hosted various activities, including making forests green, reviving streams, and managing drainage basins in the Gyeonggido Yeoju area. In particular, Coca-Cola Korea has removed unnecessary weeds and harmful plants that prohibit the roots of trees to save water, which enhances CO2 absorbtion, distances trees for good spacing, and improves the function of interception. Besides, Coca-Cola Korea has been making 10 indoor forests this year and 27 forests on an accumulated basis through the Children's Welfare Facility Indoor Forestry Project since last year. This project is a social contribution activity of Coca-Cola Korea to improve the environment for children who spend plenty of time indoors. The Miral Welfare Foundation, the National Institute of Biological Resources, and the Korea Child Welfare Centre Association are partnering on this project. This year, they have made wall planteria and indoor gardens according to the environment of each facility, which improved air quality and had a positive impact on children. Coca-Cola Korea has been hosting a scholarship ceremony for teens. This award is designed to help teens pursue colourful dreams. On May 13th, the ceremony was hosted at the headquarters, and the Green Foundation, Miral Welfare Foundation, Global Good Friends, and Team Chaboom participated in the discovery of scholarships and ceremonies. A total of 40 Coca-Cola scholarships were given in the environment, sports, leadership, social integration, and variety sectors, and each was given 3 million won. (Total: 0.1 billion won)