Call for Applications Kicks Off This Year’s From Source to the Sea Project

The launch of a new call for applications, open to all Croatian cities, marks the beginning of this year’s edition of From Source to the Sea - an environmental project jointly organized by Coca-Cola, Konzum, Jutarnji list, and the Association of Cities. The project aims to promote urban reforestation by planting trees in city environments to help reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and lower air temperatures. It also encourages proper waste disposal and the protection of Croatia’s water resources.

This year’s From Source to the Sea will unfold in several phases, starting with the application period, which runs for one month until March 17. Cities interested in reforesting specific areas within their communities are invited to apply via Coca-Cola’s website.

Participating cities must commit to organizing a one-day cleanup campaigns between April 14 and June 23, in collaboration with local NGOs and volunteers. The competition will evaluate the number of volunteers involved and the amount of waste collected. The three most successful cities will share a prize fund of €45,000, which will be used to purchase tree seedlings for urban reforestation. In partnership with the winning cities, tree-planting activities will take place between October and December, and the cities will also receive special recognition plaques.

"Through the From Source to the Sea project, we aim to contribute to a cleaner environment, reduce CO₂ emissions, and help lower temperatures in our cities. By bringing together partners and participants, we hope to raise awareness of the importance of environmental protection, Croatia’s water resources, and responsible waste disposal. Last year alone, 30 cities took part, and volunteers removed more than 420 tons of waste from nature, ensuring its proper disposal. These are achievements we can all be proud of. We invite all cities to join us again this year and work together to reduce waste in nature while improving overall quality of life," said Igor Zgrabljić, Director of the Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Department of Coca-Cola HBC Adria, at the launch of this year’s project.

Coca-Cola introduced From Source to the Sea in Croatia in 2018 in partnership with government institutions and civil society organizations. Four years ago, Jutarnji list joined as a project partner, followed by Konzum in 2022, and later, the Association of Cities of the Republic of Croatia. The project is also supported by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition and the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology of the University of Zagreb.

From Source to the Sea is part of Coca-Cola’s long-term sustainability initiative, World Without Waste, through which the company has committed to collect and recycle the equivalent of the bottles and cans it places on the market by 2030. Additionally, at least 50% of its consumer packaging will be made from recycled materials. Over the years, the company has reduced plastic use by a quarter by introducing lighter bottles. A further step toward the World Without Waste vision came in May 2023, when Coca-Cola introduced attached plastic bottle caps to Croatian consumers.