ZUG, Switzerland, June 10, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - Coca-Cola HBC AG (Coca-Cola HBC, the Company) today published its 2013 Integrated Report. Titled 'The best is yet to come', the report discusses the Company's strategy and performance across a range of financial, economic, social and environmental indicators.
One of the world's largest bottlers of The Coca-Cola Company's beverage products, Coca-Cola HBC has integrated sustainability throughout its business over the past decade.
Today, the Company is a Supersector leader in the FTSE4Good index and has been listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (World and Europe) for six consecutive years. Among beverage companies, Coca-Cola HBC was ranked first in Europe and second in the world for sustainability.
"Integrated reporting reflects how our Company thinks and does business," said Dimitris Lois, Chief Executive Officer. "This approach allows us to discuss material issues facing our business and communities and show how we create value, for shareholders and for society as a whole."
"We were delighted that our first integrated report was noted by a Harvard Business School study as a 'best case example' of this new approach to reporting. As a sustainability leader, we must continue to raise the bar."
Highlights of the report
- We gained or maintained volume and value share in our priority sparkling beverage category in 20 out of 24 measured markets. In 15 countries, we achieved all-time high volume shares. Although, net sales revenue declined by 2%, currency-neutral net sales revenue per case grew by 1%, maintaining our growth trend for the third consecutive year. For the first time in our Group's history, we achieved a negative working capital position. This represents a €71 million - or 21% - improvement on 2012.
- Our operational water footprint decreased by 2% in 2013, a reduction of 62% since 2004. Our relative water use, the volume we use to produce one litre of beverage, has improved 23% since 2004. Our carbon footprint (Scope 1 and 2 emissions) fell by a further 3% during 2013, or 6.4% since 2004. Energy efficiency, the amount we use to produce one litre of beverage, has improved by 32% since 2004. We have constructed 10 on-site Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants and will commission a further five in the next two years. Landfilled waste has fallen by 74% since 2004 while the amount of waste generated per litre of beverage has fallen by 82%. In 2013, we contributed in excess of €9.5 million in community programmes, over 2.5% of pre-tax profit. More than 2.1 million people participated in our active lifestyles programmes.
In developing the 2013 Integrated Report, Coca-Cola HBC followed the guidance of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC). The report has been independently audited.
Coca-Cola HBC also publishes a separate report which follows the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and provides detailed information on social and environmental performance. The GRI report has also been independently audited and achieved A+ application level. Coca-Cola HBC has reported the Company's social and environmental performance since 2004 and previously published an annual CSR report.
The 2013 Integrated Report is available online at http://www.coca-colahellenic.com/investorrelations/annualreports/. Paper copies can be ordered through http://www.coca-colahellenic.com/investorrelations/annualreports/orderareport.
Enquiries
Coca Cola HBC
Katerina Giama
Public Affairs and Communications
Tel: +30 210 618 3332
katerina(dot)giama(at)cchellenic(dot)com
About Coca Cola HBC
Coca-Cola HBC is the second-largest bottler of the brands of The Coca-Cola Company in terms of volume with sales of more than 2 billion unit cases. It has a broad geographic footprint with operations in 28 countries serving a population of approximately 585 million people. Coca-Cola HBC offers a diverse range of non-alcoholic ready to drink beverages in the sparkling, juice, water, sport, energy, tea and coffee categories. Coca-Cola HBC is committed to promoting sustainable development in order to create value for its business and for society. This includes providing products that meet the beverage needs of consumers, fostering an open and inclusive work environment, conducting its business in ways that protect and preserve the environment and contribute to the socio-economic development of the local communities.
Coca-Cola HBC has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: CCH) and its shares are listed on the Athens Exchange (ATHEX: EEE). Coca-Cola HBC's American depositary shares (ADSs) are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CCH). Coca-Cola HBC is included in the Dow Jones Sustainability and FTSE4Good Indexes. For more information, please visit http://www.coca-colahellenic.com.
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