While Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have done much to publicize their environmental initiatives worldwide, the two soda bottlers and a host of other water users could not escape the headlines when a Beijing-area group listed the top-12 polluters of water in the city.
The Beijing Development and Reform Commission, the capital's economic planning agency, issued the report, as well as a list of the top 15 energy users, which included the Benz-DaimlerChrysler plant, reports AgenceFrancePress.
The Capital Iron and Steel Corporation and chemical company Praxair also made the energy list.
The commission said that the named companies will be asked to submit plans to reduce energy use and pollution emissions.
Local companies making the water pollution list include Tsingtao brewery, juice maker Huiyuan and several dairy producers.
The list, dubbed the "Notice of Clean Production And Energy Saving Evaluation" has been published in Chinese only at the commission's Web site, reports Forbes.
The new list stems from the publication earlier of the "Catalog of Products of High Water Consuming Technology Restricted and Prohibited in Industry in Beijing" by the Beijing Development and Reform Commission. The Chinese government is trying to reduce energy consumption 4 percent, per unit of GDP, and by 20 percent in the five years ending in 2010, as outlined in the country's five-year plan for 2006-2010.
In 2007, more than 90 multinational companies were targeted by Chinese environmental authorities for pollution committed as far back as 2004. General Motors, Samsung, Unilever, Pepsi and Yum Brands chains Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut were just a few of the companies on the list.
The fact that Pepsi and Coca-Cola were singled out runs counter to much positive press the two have received lately.
Coca-Cola and Pepsi were ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, for their environmental and sustainable initiatives among other food and beverage companies, in a recent survey by the the Roberts Environmental Center at Calaremont McKenna College.
Coca-Cola Enterprises has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 15 percent by 2020 as part of its “Commitment 2020.” This move is expected to lower the beverage company’s net emissions to 5.2 million metric tons The company also set goals for its five strategic corporate responsibility and sustainability (CRS) focus areas.
Among Fortune 500 companies that purchase renewable energy, PepsiCo is outdone only by Intel.
