The Central Asian Regional Environmental Center (CAREC), together with Coca-Cola in Kazakhstan, presented their vision of the problem and effective water saving projects as part of the reporting event “Rational use of natural resources as the basis for the success of sustainable business development.”
With 76% of Coca-Cola Icecek’s (CCI) factories located in water-stressed regions, the company focuses on recycling water both for the benefit of the environment and to ensure the continuity of its operations. The company categorizes 15 water-stressed areas into three groups and bases its road map on Coca-Cola’s water security strategy, World Resources Research Institute’s water scarcity assessment, and input from its supply chain and corporate affairs teams. in the respective countries.
Directly in Kazakhstan, water conservation projects are aimed at improving the economic situation of farms and livestock farms and have been initiated since 2010. Thus, from May 2023 to March 2024, with the financial support of The Coca-Cola Foundation, an environmental initiative of the Central Asian Regional Environmental Center (CAREC) was implemented, aimed at restoring degraded lands and supporting agricultural communities in the Arnasay and Stepnogorsk regions of the river basin Ishim. The project budget was 100 thousand dollars. It is based on the restoration of landscapes and watersheds, the introduction and scaling of sustainable land management (SLM) practices in order to educate farmers and attract investment in the economic development of the region.
As such, the initiative was focused on creating sustainable solutions to restore land and improve the livelihoods of rural communities, supporting environmentally responsible farming practices that positively impact the environment and local economies.
In June 2024, with the support of Coca-Cola Icecek, this cooperation was continued – an agreement was concluded between the Regional Environmental Center of Central Asia (CAREC) and Irrigator Kazakhstan LLP aimed at introducing water-saving technologies, such as drip irrigation, in agricultural lands of the region . As a result of the implementation of the project on the experimental fields of the Niva farm, located in the Tselinograd region, it was possible to reduce water consumption by six times compared to traditional irrigation methods.
The farm, with a total area of 200 hectares, is located in the suburban area of Kosshy, Tselinograd district, Akmola region, 35 km from Astana. Surface drip irrigation technologies were introduced on two plots of 2 hectares and 3 hectares, which significantly reduced the cost of water, fertilizers and labor, as well as prevented soil erosion and increased crop resistance to drought.
In total, during the 2024 season, 3295 m were consumed in two areas with a total area of 5 hectares3 water or 659m3/ha. For comparison, with traditional ditch irrigation, the average water consumption on the same field and under similar conditions (field area, daily irrigation rate, crop grown and number of plants) would be more than 3900 m3/ha per season.
Such successful results have already aroused interest among neighboring farms who are planning to introduce this technology next season.
According to Alima Isembaeva, director of corporate relations and sustainable development at Coca-Cola Icecek Kazakhstan, the company has been working for many years to make its business more sustainable.
“We consider this cooperation as an opportunity to jointly achieve significant results in solving an urgent problem and generally improve the sustainability of agriculture in the country. The first results of the introduction of new methods and technologies allow us to assess that we are on the right path,” noted Alima Isembaeva.
In 2022, Coca-Cola Icecek announced its commitments until 2030 to achieve sustainable development goals in the countries where it operates, including Kazakhstan. The company’s commitments focus on packaging recycling, water and climate change, human rights, and community diversity and inclusion.
CCI annually independently evaluates and improves the water efficiency of its plants in Kazakhstan. And according to the data reflected in the integrated annual report for 2023 on the company’s activities in Turkey, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Iraq and Uzbekistan, CCI has achieved important indicators in fulfilling its obligations, for example, the water consumption coefficient decreased by 3% in 2023 compared to the base year 2020.
For more than 20 years, the Coca‑Cola company has been cooperating with such organizations as UNDP, the Kazakhstan Biodiversity Conservation Fund, the G-Global Coalition for Green Economy and Development, and the Center for Promotion of Sustainable Development. These organizations’ projects to restore water supply and save water, supported by grants from the international Coca‑Cola Foundation, allow up to 1.8 billion liters of water to be returned to the environment annually. This is approximately 3 times the volume of water that is used to produce the company’s drinks in Kazakhstan. Thanks to the company’s investments in the restoration of Kazakhstan’s water resources, which amounted to more than US$1 million, more than 10 billion liters of water have been conserved over the past 10 years.
Today, Coca‑Cola continues to actively work towards achieving sustainable development goals, increasing the efficiency of water and energy use, while continuing to play a key role in maintaining environmental balance and social well-being in Central Asia.
CCI —is an international beverage company operating in Turkey, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Syria and Bangladesh. CCI manufactures, distributes and markets carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks from The Coca-Cola Company.
CCI employs more than 10,000 people and operates a total of 31 soft drink bottling plants and 3 fruit processing plants in 12 countries, offering a wide range of beverage products to a consumer base of 600 million people. In addition to carbonated drinks, the product portfolio includes juices, iced tea, water, sports and energy drinks and coffee.
CCI shares are traded on the Istanbul Stock Exchange (BIST) under the symbol “CCOLA.IS”.
“Coca-Cola Foundation” (TheCoca–ColaFoundation) is an international charitable foundation whose mission is to promote positive change in communities in all countries where The Coca-Cola Company operates. The Foundation funds organizations and projects around the world that make lasting and measurable contributions to solving global challenges in areas such as sustainable access to water, climate change, the circular economy, economic empowerment, and disaster management. To support initiatives in these areas around the world, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.5 billion in grants since its founding in 1984.
More about the Foundation on the website https://www.coca–colacompany.com/social/coca–cola–foundation
According to the Coca-Cola Press Service
Interview between Time.News Editor and Alima Isembaeva, Director of Corporate Relations and Sustainable Development at Coca-Cola Icecek Kazakhstan
Time.News Editor: Welcome, Alima. It’s great to have you here with us today. Your recent partnership with the Central Asian Regional Environmental Center (CAREC) has brought significant initiatives to address water use in agriculture in Kazakhstan. Can you tell us more about the rationale behind this collaboration?
Alima Isembaeva: Thank you for having me! The collaboration with CAREC stems from our commitment to sustainability and responsible resource management. With 76% of our factories located in water-stressed areas, we realize the urgency of promoting water-saving technologies and practices. By working with CAREC, we aim to implement effective water management strategies that not only benefit our operations but also enhance the livelihoods of local agricultural communities.
Time.News Editor: That’s fascinating. The environmental initiative appears to have made tangible impacts already. Could you highlight some of the key achievements since its inception?
Alima Isembaeva: Absolutely. From May 2023 to March 2024, we implemented a project that restored degraded lands and supported communities in the Arnasay and Stepnogorsk regions. We invested $100,000 through The Coca-Cola Foundation to introduce sustainable land management practices. One standout achievement was the introduction of drip irrigation technologies, which significantly reduced water usage on experimental fields by six times compared to traditional methods.
Time.News Editor: That’s impressive! What specific techniques or technologies have been introduced, and what feedback have you received from farmers?
Alima Isembaeva: We introduced surface drip irrigation systems in two plots within an experimental farm. These technologies have drastically reduced water usage from over 3,900 cubic meters per hectare to just 659 cubic meters per hectare in a season. Farmers are already noticing reduced costs for water, fertilizers, and labor, and we are seeing increased crop resilience to drought conditions. The success of these methods has generated interest from neighboring farms looking to adopt these technologies next season.
Time.News Editor: Water conservation is crucial for sustainable agriculture. Can you elaborate on how Coca-Cola Icecek plans to ensure the long-term sustainability of these initiatives?
Alima Isembaeva: Our long-term vision integrates education and investments in local communities. We provide training for farmers on sustainable practices, ensuring they can continuously apply what they’ve learned even after our initiatives conclude. Moreover, our partnership with local organizations will help attract further investments, enhancing economic opportunities within the region.
Time.News Editor: That’s a commendable approach. Coca-Cola Icecek is also focused on achieving sustainable development goals by 2030. Could you share some highlights of your commitments in Kazakhstan?
Alima Isembaeva: Certainly! Our commitments include enhancing our packaging recycling efforts, improving water management, addressing climate change, and promoting diversity and inclusion within communities where we operate. We aim to return 1.8 billion liters of water back to the environment annually—three times the amount we utilize for our production in Kazakhstan. Over the past decade, our investments have led to the conservation of over 10 billion liters of water.
Time.News Editor: It sounds like Coca-Cola Icecek is not only addressing its operational water usage but is also making significant contributions to environmental sustainability in Kazakhstan. What future projects or goals do you have on the horizon?
Alima Isembaeva: Moving forward, we plan to expand our water-saving initiatives and continue implementing innovative agricultural technologies. We are also dedicated to engaging even more communities by scaling our existing projects, fostering broader participation in sustainable practices, and strengthening our partnerships with organizations committed to environmental conservation.
Time.News Editor: Thank you, Alima, for sharing these insights about the ongoing initiatives and commitments at Coca-Cola Icecek. It’s encouraging to see a major corporation take such active steps towards fostering sustainable development.
Alima Isembaeva: Thank you for the opportunity to discuss our efforts. We believe that through collaboration, innovation, and community involvement, we can make a real difference in sustainable resource management in Kazakhstan and beyond.