Coca-Cola European Partners has joined the Climate Group's EV100, a global action group comprising companies looking to transition to electric vehicles by 2030.
The soft drinks giant plans to switch all company cars and vans to electric or low emissions vehicles, if electric vehicles are not ready by 2030.
Electric Vehicles
Coca-Cola Europe's fleet comprises only 5% electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids, the rest being traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles.
It currently has approximately 8,000 cars and vans in its light vehicle fleet and 800 trucks in its heavy goods section.
The group has successfully transitioned to an electric fleet in Norway, Sweden, and Germany, with over half of its sales fleet in these countries changing to electric vehicles.
Plans to offer workplace vehicle charging to employees is also underway, which will help the overall transition to electric, the cola giant said.
Climate Strategy
This commitment will help the group achieve its climate strategy goal, including its ambition to reach net-zero emissions by 2040.
Coca-Cola also aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30%. As emissions from the company's fleet of vehicles total approximately 17% of GHG emissions, the transition to electric vehicles will be extremely beneficial in lowering emissions.
Joe Franses, vice-president of sustainability, said the group is "proud to use our voice to support EV100 in accelerating the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and making electric transport the new normal by 2030."
He added that the commitment marks an "important milestone along CCEP's journey to a low carbon business."
EV100 is equally happy to have the group on board, with its head, Sandra Roling, saying that having "such a notable brand, with a significant presence all over Europe" will help make electric transport "the new normal."
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Conor Farrelly. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.