The document discusses Coca-Cola's water usage and initiatives to address community concerns about water depletion. Communities had demanded Coca-Cola shut plants, compensate affected residents, and pay for water remediation. In response, Coca-Cola implemented initiatives like women's empowerment programs, charitable giving, and water stewardship. The document also discusses the Sahara Forest Project, which uses greenhouse designs inspired by desert beetles to harvest fresh water in arid climates. It has successfully grown crops in greenhouses in the United Arab Emirates that supply more irrigation water than they use. The document suggests Coca-Cola could partner with this project to improve its water sustainability, public relations, and local agricultural assistance.

1. Saving Water Initiative
What more can Coca-Cola do?

2. A problem solved?
• In early 2000’s (Source A, B)
– ~3:1
– Claims of lost livelihood
• What was demanded? (Source B)
– “Coca-Cola must shut down its bottling plants in Kala Dera and
Mehdiganj
– Coca-Cola must never reopen its plants in Plachimada and Balia
– Coca-Cola must compensate affected community members who
have lost their livelihoods
– Coca-Cola must be held criminally liable for the damages it has
caused
– Coca-Cola must pay for the remediation of the depleted water
resource and pollution it has caused
– Coca-Cola must set up a fund to train and relocate the workers
who will be laid off as a result of the shut down”

3. What did we do?
• Women’s Economic Empowerment
• Charitable Giving
• Human and Workplace Rights
• Access to Critical Medicines
• Disaster Relief
• Water Stewardship
• Sustainable Packaging
• Climate Protection
• Sustainable Agriculture
(Source D)

4. Public Relations?
• Global Business Principles
• Our Governance and Ethics
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Report Parameters
• Independent Assurance
(Source D)

5. Is there more?
(Source C)

6. Is there more?
(Source C)

7. Biomimicry
“Biomimicry and the Sahara Forest Project:
There are a number of key biomimicry ideas that have been
a source of inspiration throughout the project. The
Namibian fog-basking beetle, which has evolved a way of
harvesting its own fresh water in a desert, was important in
developing the design of the seawater-cooled greenhouse.
The characteristic of ecosystems being regenerative was a
powerful driver for the team to strive for solutions that went
beyond ‘sustainable’ to ‘restorative’.”
(Source E)

8. How does it work?
(Source E)

9. How does it work?
(Source E)

10. How does it work?
(Source E)

11. Does it work?
“Since the Tenerife pilot greenhouse, the second design evolved into a more
elegant yet lower cost solution using a light but strong steel structure similar to
a multi-span polytunnel. This structure was designed to be cost-effective and
suitable for local sourcing. This second Seawater Greenhouse was constructed
on Al-Aryam Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in 2000.
Crop production in terms of quality and quantity has been outstanding, with the
Greenhouse supplying in excess of the water required for irrigation.”
(Source F)

12. Benefits
• Additional self-reliance for sugar cane
production
• Improve relationship with locals through
jobs and agricultural assistance
• World wide public relations
• Improve environment
• Supply has potential to exceed our own
demand

13. How?
• By seeking a joint venture with the Sahara
Project
• Increase public awareness
• Increase charitable donations
• Benefit from expertise
• Proven technology
• Proven process

14. Resources
A. http://www.economist.com/node/4492835
B. http://www.cokejustice.org/?page_id=31
C. http://www.coca-colacompany.com/sustainabilityreport/world/water-stewardship.
html#section-mitigating-riskfor-communities-and-for-our-system
D. http://assets.coca-colacompany.com/44/d4/e4eb8b6f4682804bdf6ba2ca89b8/2012-2013-
gri-report.pdf
E. http://saharaforestproject.com/concept/biomimicry.html
F. http://www.seawatergreenhouse.com/faq.html
G. http://www.seawatergreenhouse.com/downloads/Sahara%20Forest.pdf