Having launched a contest for which all Croatian cities may apply, Coca-Cola, Konzum, Jutarnji list and the Association of Cities kicked off the latest edition of their environmental project dubbed From Source to the Sea. The project is focused on providing support to urban afforestation – planting of trees in cities for the purpose of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and air temperatures. It is also intended to promote the protection of Croatia’s water resources and encourage appropriate waste disposal practices.
From Source to the Sea will be implemented in several phases, the first of which has begun by publishing a notice of the contest that will continue for one month, until 15 March. The contest was published on Coca-Cola’s website.
All cities desiring to afforest some of their areas are eligible for participation. Each applicant city will be required to organize a one-day cleaning campaign in cooperation with NGOs and volunteers between 15 April and 31 May. Points will be earned based on the number of volunteers and amounts of waste collected and the top-ranking three cities will share EUR 45,000 in prize money, intended for purchasing tree seedlings for urban afforestation. Planting campaigns will be arranged with the winners to take place between October and December, and they will also be presented with special plaques.
“As a result of keeping up with sustainability trends, last year we upgraded the project to include planting of trees in urban settings. We are very pleased with the results achieved, as well as the fact that the public has recognized the importance of this project. Last year, 28 cities applied and almost five thousand volunteers removed and properly disposed of 152 tons of packaging waste. Once again, we congratulate the most successful cities of Varaždin, Lipik and Vinkovci. We invite all cities to apply for the contest and thus directly help improve long-term quality of life in their respective regions,” said Bruno Jelić, Director of the Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Department at Coca-Cola HBC Adria.
Coca-Cola launched From Source to the Sea in Croatia in 2018, in cooperation with government institutions and civil society associations. Three years ago, Jutarnji list joined us as a partner, followed by Konzum in 2022 and the Association of Cities last year. The project also received support from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology in Zagreb.
From Source to the Sea is part of a long-term comprehensive plan dubbed World Without Waste, whereby Coca-Cola committed, among other things, to help collect and recycle a bottle or can for each one we sell by 2030 and ensure that recycled plastic accounts for at least 50 percent of all primary packaging materials we use. In addition, all primary packaging will be recyclable by 2025, which has already been accomplished in Croatia. In recent years, we have reduced our overall use of plastic by a quarter by using lighter bottles. Coca-Cola made a new step toward accomplishing its World Without Waste vision in late May of 2023, when it introduced attached plastic bottle caps to its consumers in the Croatian market.