Al Ahlia Gulf Line (AGL), the manufacturer and distributor of Coca-Cola products in the UAE, has been nominated for “Best Bottling Country Operations” among the 122 bottling plants in 34 countries from the Coca-Cola Eurasia and Africa Group countries. AGL was selected standing out among the 8 finalists together with 2 other countries in the Middle East, Bahrain and Jordan.
The Coca-Cola operation in the UAE was the first in the Middle East to install an air rinser with the purpose of reducing water use at the plant, and also was the first among all Middle East bottlers to get the praiseworthy ISO 14000 certification on Environmental Management. AGL started operations in 1989, employs around 800 people and produces locally in Al-Ain a wide range of the Coca-Cola Company products (Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Arwa, Arwa Fruits, Burn).
David Swan, General Manager of the Coca-Cola bottling operation in the UAE commented “We are delighted to be recognized among the most successful bottling partners in the region. The commitment of our 800 employees towards actively supporting the environment and donating time and money towards community initiatives stands for what we as a Company believe in.”
Speaking at the Awards ceremony, Coca-Cola Eurasia and Africa Group President Ahmet Bozer said: “The Coca-Cola Company’s commitment to protecting and preserving the environment is not just good citizenship; it’s good business, too. Stating that corporations need to be perceived as adding value to society to remain profitable, Bozer said: “Our commitment to sustainability is based on enlightened self interest”.
The bottling operations in the Coca-Cola Eurasia and Africa Group accomplished an impressive 19% reduction in the water used for the production of its beverages and 16% reduction in the energy use, between 2004 and 2009.
The prize winners were identified by a jury established for the event, comprised of representatives of internationally renowned institutions such as United Nations Development Programme, World WildLife Fund for Nature (WWF), Global Environment and Technology Foundation, and Stockholm International Water Institute, as well as senior directors of Coca-Cola.
The jury assessed the environmental performance of the bottling plants in the fields of water use, energy consumption and waste management; as well as positive contributions to sustainable communities.
