This week, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), the largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola globally, launched its volunteering programme for 2022, and is planning for its biggest ever year with the aim of reaching 7,000 volunteering hours combined across all colleagues in Great Britain.
The programme kicked off with activity in partnership with the South East Rivers Trust in Surrey, with CCEP colleagues litter-picking in the nearby chalk stream that feeds into the Chamber Mead Wetland. The wildlife project forms part of The Coca-Cola Company’s Replenish project.
Over the past few years, CCEP has partnered with community organisations including The Rivers Trust, Hubbub and Company Shop, on initiatives such as wildlife conservation projects, plastic fishing and food poverty campaigns. Thanks to its close links with the retail community, the bottler has also worked closely with convenience store retailers as part of community clean-up initiatives in partnership with Keep Britain Tidy and Keep Scotland Beautiful.
Following two years of Covid-19 restrictions, which have impacted communities across GB, the bottler is now calling on its retail partners to continue the fantastic work they’re doing as support hubs in their local communities, whether through community clean-up events or through supporting issues that they know are directly impacting their local area.
Last year, more than 800 CCEP volunteers dedicated over 6,000 hours of their time to local causes near to its eight manufacturing and office sites in GB, and to colleagues’ local communities, helped by CCEP allowing every colleague to take two paid volunteering days.
The business also invested over £1.2million in 2021 in Great Britain into charitable initiatives, including those nominated by colleagues at sites across Great Britain through its Support My Cause initiative.
“Helping our communities and making a positive difference is at the heart of everything we do at CCEP," said Holly Firmin, Senior Community Partnerships Manager at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB.
“Our volunteering programme last year was a huge success but we always want to go further to support local causes in the communities in which we operate. That’s why we’re looking for 2022 to be our biggest year for volunteering yet.
“Partnerships with community organisations and with the retail community play a vital role in making sure that our volunteering efforts and resources are going where they can make the most difference. By working with those closest to the issues impacting our local communities, we can gain a real insight into the challenges they’re facing and ensure that our support is having the maximum impact.”
