Coca-Cola HBC Serbia and Bambi presented sustainability report for 2023
Coca-Cola HBC Serbia and Bambi have presented their Sustainable Business Report for 2023. This is the eleventh report for Coca-Cola HBC Serbia and the fourth that includes data from Bambi, carrying the message “Sustainability – the strength that drives shared change’”. The report highlights how a focus on customers and consumers, innovation, digitalization, employees, and environmental protection contributes to creating long-term value. Significant investments were also announced to further integrate sustainability into processes.
With a market share of 44% in the non-alcoholic beverages category and 48% in the biscuits category, Coca-Cola HBC Serbia and Bambi continued to respond to changes in consumer lifestyles. The portfolio was strengthened with the introduction of new products with less or no sugar, as well as gluten-free biscuits. In the categories of coffee and alcoholic beverages, Coca-Cola HBC Serbia introduced 40 new products, while Bambi started very successful brand collaborations with Dr. Oetker, Frikom, and McDonald’s. As the most significant achievement in this segment, both companies highlight uncompromised quality, as there were no recalls or withdrawals from the market in 2023.
Recognizing that digitalization is a key driver of growth, the two companies invested 8.2 million EUR in this area over the past year and a half, simplifying processes, dedicating more time to customers, and reducing emissions.
Employees of these two companies underwent over 31,000 hours of training in 2023. Special attention was given to empowering women, with women holding 42,5% of managerial positions in Coca-Cola HBC Serbia and 37% in Bambi.
The report also showcases the companies’ progress toward their sustainability goals and achieving net-zero CO2 emissions. Over the last 17 years, Coca-Cola HBC Serbia reduced water consumption by 54,4% and energy consumption by 58%. In the past decade, Bambi reduced water usage by 42%. Both companies recycle 99% of waste from production and offices, aiming for zero landfill waste.
“Progress in key environmental parameters best demonstrates our approach to resources and the environment. Compared to 2017, we reduced direct CO2 emissions by 73%, while Bambi achieved a 47% reduction. With 96% of vehicles in Coca-Cola HBC Serbia’s fleet and 65% in Bambi’s fleet being low emission, we are on the right path to achieving a fully ‘green’ fleet by 2030. This is just the beginning. We continue to work with suppliers on decarbonizing the supply chain, continuously improving our packaging, and using more efficient cooling equipment. Although our Net Zero goals are set for 2040, that future is now. We see the next 16 years as a period of innovation and translating promises into actions,” said Svetoslav Atanasov, General Manager of Coca-Cola HBC Serbia and Montenegro.
Both companies source all their electricity from renewable sources. Solar collectors were installed at the Vlasinka bottling plant, while Bambi is in the process of installing solar panels for electricity production.
Alongside investments in these initiatives, Coca-Cola HBC Serbia and Bambi continue to be reliable partners to the local community.
“In 2023, our two companies invested more than 400,000 euros in local communities and additionally donated over 200,000 liters of beverages and 22 tons of products. Through employee volunteering, Bambi and Coca-Cola HBC Serbia contributed over 2,000 hours of community support. Empowering youth and women and promoting recycling initiatives remain our priorities in this area. We also provided significant support to sports and the values it promotes, supporting the Youth Sports Games, the largest children’s sports competition in Europe, and other sporting events,” stated Dragan Stajković, General Manager of Bambi.
Major investments to further integrate sustainability into processes were also announced at the presentation of the report. Coca-Cola HBC Serbia plans to build an automatic warehouse worth 33 million euros, bringing innovative logistics standards. Bambi plans to invest over 12 million euros in expanding production capacities through infrastructure, new technologies, automation and digitalization of processes as well as opening new production lines.
The Sustainable Business Report complies with the most prevalent global methodology – the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and meets the high requirements of the United Nations Global Compact for the Progress Report.
You can access the report here: Preuzimanje (coca-colahellenic.com)
Photos by: Vladimir Veličković