Swire's Focus on Sustainability
Swire Coca-Cola, USA
Swire Coca-Cola, USA produces, sells and distributes Coca-Cola and other beverages in 13 states across the American West
In honor of National Recycling Week, we wanted to pull back the curtain and share a bit about Swire’s focus on sustainability and our efforts to have zero waste to landfill.
“Swire is committed to sending zero waste to landfill from our core operations by 2025, and we’re almost there,” said Karlee Siepierski, manager of sustainability.
“It really takes the whole team,” she said. “In our sales centers and warehouses, our operators work hard to make sure everything gets sorted properly, keeping as much out of the landfill as possible.”
Each month, Swire tracks and measures several sustainability benchmarks, recycling rate being one of them.
Across the company, Swire boasts a 96% recycle rate and, in some locations, over 98%. We also use #1 PET plastic in our beverage bottles, which is the highest quality and most recyclable. “One plastic bottle can be remade into another many times over,” Karlee said. “We need everyone recycling.”
Internally, Swire installed easy-to-understand recycle bins in offices throughout our region. “It simplifies the process and increases recycling capture rates in our facilities,” Karlee said. “By making it an easy decision we’ve seen a lot of success.”
“We have developed a great relationship between our sustainability and operations teams,” she said. “It has really come to the forefront in terms of performance and metrics – it’s really on top of everybody’s mind. It’s embedded in our philosophy.”
Mike Bernier, director of sustainability, has led Swire’s environmental sustainability efforts for more than a decade. Together, Mike and Karlee work hard to create a culture that focuses on the importance of taking care of our planet and communities.
“Swire is a Coke-system leader on the forefront of sustainability,” said Mike. “Swire as a company has always believed it’s the right thing to do.”
Globally, Swire’s view on sustainability is this: “We look ahead and strive to make the right decision for the long term. The world is facing some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. We are committed to being part of the solution. Because when we help the world in which we operate to thrive, so do we.”
Swire Coca-Cola, USA is ready for the challenge.
Part Owner and Vice President of PolyWrap Recycling, Inc
1yRecycling is all about efficiency. Companies have to change and evolve to help recycling to be a cost-efficient option. Innovative products like our RACK'nPak Recycle Bagging System to improve how companies recycle their cut off stretch film are huge steps forward in reducing labor and time spent collecting and baling the film material which greatly helps the efficiency of the program.
Now continue with starting a long standing tradition to put back into the employees who are on the front line everyday that sell and merchandise, the warehouse employees that create loads, morale is not where it used to be according to the dozens I talk to in the past.
Technical Consultant at Epright Consulting Services
2yPlastic is recycled at very low rates, far less than production. I can remember a time when glass refillable bottles were used. Seems a far better solution. What happened?