By IANS,
New Delhi : Coca-Cola India is planning to start 20 water conservation projects Thursday to reach its goal of being a “net zero” groundwater user.
“We are planning to inaugurate and dedicate 20 water conservation projects which will take us closer to fulfilling our commitment on reaching a ‘net zero’ balance with respect to groundwater usage,” Deepak Jolly, spokesperson for Coca-Cola India, said here Wednesday.
Other corporate bodies are also planning special initiatives to mark the day.
The CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development has made a 40 second short film, directed by Kunal Vohra, on climate change and its effects on human health. The film will be released Thursday on television channels and the Internet.
Coca-Cola India will be focussing on water conservation and increasing ecological awareness. “We believe water conservation is of utmost importance,” Jolly said. “India has 17 percent of the world’s population but only four percent of global fresh water resources. Though this difference is partly made up through adequate rainfall, we are unable to conserve enough water.”
The company is also planning a number of mass awareness campaigns among children and through the radio waves. It hopes to reach out to at least 100,000 people across 60 cities.
Asked about the ecologiocal footprint of their packaging products, Jolly said Coke PET bottles are recyclable and the company has established a sort of value chain. The bottles can be compressed and then recycled and reused in the production of products like shoes, carpets or jackets.