Verona, 10 July 2024 - Coca-Cola HBC Italia, the leading producer and distributor of The Coca-Cola Company brand products in Italy, and the Consorzio di Bonifica Veronese, the body responsible for the management of hydraulic and irrigation works in the territory of the Veronese plain, announced today during a press conference at the headquarters of Confindustria Verona a ten-year collaboration aimed at the creation of an infiltration forest area (AFI) in the Alpo area (VR), following the exploratory public notice published by the Consortium to identify the parties interested in financing the project.
The common objective of the two companies is to encourage the introduction of water into the surface aquifer to revitalize the entire resurgence system(1) and at the same time compensate for the amount of water extracted annually from the Verona plant of Coca-Cola HBC Italia which, however, for its production activities has a regional concession to draw from wells that have no influence on supplies destined for the territory.
Infiltration Forest Areas are basically agricultural land located in high plain areas characterized by particularly permeable soils, set up with a network of channels arranged in a comb pattern alternating with rows of trees and shrubs, within which a continuous flow of water taken from external sources is made to flow, with the aim of facilitating its infiltration into the groundwater(2).
In addition to the reconstitution of the underground water heritage, the AFIs allow, through plants, the reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere, the improvement of the landscape and the increase of biodiversity.
The AFI covered by the agreement will be set up starting next autumn on an area of about 15,000 m2 owned by the Veronese Reclamation Consortium and located in the Alpo area, south of Verona. The land is served by the consortium irrigation structures currently operating only in the summer period and in this situation allows about 800,000 m3 of water deriving from the Adige river to infiltrate the soil in a year, which would otherwise flow downstream without benefits for the community. In this way, the factory should already be able to compensate for 100% of the water pumped and not returned to the watercourses.
However, with the aim of using the AFI to its maximum capacity for the benefit of the territory, the Veneto Region will be asked to grant a derivation concession even in winter for the introduction of water into the aquifer. This will make it possible to reach a total annual infiltrable volume of 1.5 million m3, a quantity of water that more than compensates for the volumes extracted in twelve months from the Coca-Cola HBC Italia plant in Nogara.
"Water is the primary ingredient of our production processes. We are fully aware of the importance of responsible use of water resources and are committed to limiting the impact on watersheds. At the basis of our activities there is compliance with legal requirements on environmental protection, to which are added the optimization of consumption and the involvement of local stakeholders in common initiatives," says Giangiacomo Pierini, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Director of Coca-Cola HBC Italia. "This project demonstrates that synergistic collaboration between the public and private sectors can generate shared value. We want to thank the Reclamation Consortium for opening up this important opportunity for collaboration, the Region for the support it will reserve for the full implementation of the project and Confindustria Verona for its continuous support for public-private partnerships".
"For the Veronese Reclamation Consortium ," adds Alex Vantini, President of the Veronese Reclamation Consortium, "the environmental issue remains central to any land and water management policy. Our institution, alongside hydraulic safety and irrigation management in seventy municipalities in the province of Verona, has always paid the utmost attention to the issues of protecting the territory and promoting biodiversity, through the implementation of interventions managed directly with its own staff or in collaboration with local authorities, regional agencies and private entities, as in this important project, really destined to set a precedent".
"The importance of protecting ecosystems and the water resources that support them appears more vital than ever for Veneto Agricoltura which, together with the Veneto Region, continues to carry out activities and experiments in an increasingly rational management of water resources and adaptation to climate change." Nicola Dell'Acqua, Director of Veneto Agricoltura, comments: "The creation of an infiltration forest area (AFI) in the Verona area is consistent with the strategy aimed at increasing the available water resources. Therefore, Veneto Agricoltura has contributed not only by sharing the technical knowledge acquired in the various projects such as Aquor and Redafi, but also by providing native plants useful for preserving forest biodiversity".
The Coca-Cola HBC Italia factory in Nogara extracts the water necessary for production from 5 wells that draw from deep aquifers. With a water intensity of 1.59 litres consumed per litre of beverage produced, the Nogara factory uses 2/3 of the water extracted annually for soft drinks.
The remaining part, once purified, is returned to the Tartaro river, where it is made available to the community which, when necessary, can use it for the irrigation of the fields in the area. All these activities are carried out in full compliance with the authorizations issued by the bodies in charge. The Nogara plant also complies with the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) requirements, which certify the responsible management of water resources.
Over time, the Veronese Coca-Cola HBC Italia factory has promoted other environmental sustainability initiatives dedicated to the territory in collaboration with local realities. These include the collaboration with the local cooperative Cà Magre for the recovery and rehabilitation of the "Palude di Pellegrina" and the Boscàja project developed with the Mag Committee for the creation of a permanent forest for the benefit of biodiversity and the local community.
The environmental, economic and social sustainability initiatives carried out by Coca-Cola HBC Italia are reported in the twentieth sustainability report, "Let's celebrate the world of tomorrow together", published in June 2024 and available on www.lanostraricetta.it.
Coca-Cola HBC Italy
Coca-Cola HBC Italia is the leading manufacturer and distributor of The Coca-Cola Company brand products in Italy. It employs about 2,000 people and operates through 6 plants: 3 dedicated to the production of soft drinks located in Nogara (VR), Oricola (AQ), Marcianise (CE), 2 mineral water bottling sites, Fonti del Vulture in Rionero in Vulture (PZ) and Lurisia in Roccaforte Mondovì (CN) and an innovative hub located in Gaglianico (BI) dedicated to the production of recycled plastic bottles (rPET) for the bottling of the company's products. Coca-Cola HBC Italia presents itself on the market as a 24/7 Total Beverage Partner, with a product portfolio capable of covering all consumption occasions, from breakfast to after dinner. To expand its commercial offer, since 2018, it has also distributed over 70 references of Spirits from national and international brands. Committed to corporate social responsibility, Coca-Cola HBC Italia publishes an annual Socio-Environmental Report in which it documents the activities carried out for the community, in the market, in the environmental field and in the workplace. Detailed information on Coca-Cola HBC Italia is available on www.coca-colahellenic.it.
Coca-Cola HBC Italy
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SEC Newgate Italy Irene Fusani |
(1) A resurgence, or fountain, is a source of fresh water of natural origin (or sometimes brought to the surface by man) typical of valley floor or alluvial plain soils, in areas with aquifers that are not too deep or excessively salty.
(2) Groundwater tables are aquifers closer to the surface that feed wells or springs.