Apparently Coca-Cola is going green. Not food dye, but the eco-friendly kind. Is this a real change or just a PR stunt?
They are starting with Wind-Powered Billboards.
The Coca-Cola Company’s new digital billboard in Times Square is not only going green with its use of wind power, but it has also started the trend among 30 billboards at the iconic intersection of 47th Street and Broadway in Manhattan.
According to their spokespeople, Coke will also aim to recycle or reuse 100 percent of the aluminum beverage cans and PET plastic bottles it sells in the U.S. Not sure how they plan to do this, seeing as they would need to get involved in the collection of said spent containers?
With these measures they hope to prevent the release of 1,866 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. That’s not too shabby, but I see no mention of any of the damage they are currently causing to water tables around the world – carbon is not the only issue Coke has.
It’s a start though, and maybe other companies will follow suit. Especially as I doubt Coca-Cola will do anything without at least one eye on the consumer and their bottom line.
What do you think? Cynical PR stunt or actual, authentic good move? Please share your thoughts in the comments …
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Andrew 12.30.08 at 11:51 am
Cynical stunt joined in with economic benefits.
matt churchill 12.30.08 at 11:55 am
They’re part of a recycle zone scheme at various centers across the UK too
http://www.letsrecycle.com/do/ecco.py/view_item?listid=37&listcatid=217&listitemid=10784
Stephen 12.30.08 at 1:58 pm
Sounds like greenwashing to me…
However, there will be more and more consciously aware individuals working inside these multinationals affecting and effecting change, albeit slowly.
@peacefulwarrior
Anne-Marie 12.30.08 at 2:00 pm
Even if it’s a cynical PR move, their large company moving towards a more sustainable future is more effective than what we can do on our own as individuals. For whatever their reasons, it’s a win-win for the environment.
Jason Moody 12.30.08 at 2:06 pm
I know how hard greening business operations are as we have been most of the last 12 months attempting to do that and we are only a small company, stated aims of 100% are pretty much pie in the sky. That said anything being done to improve the environmental impact is a step in the right direction regardless of the motives behind it, and as to the comment about economic benefits, well my company could do more than it is doing at present, but the end result would mean we were th most environmentally friendly bankrupt corporate entertainment company in th UK, businesses by their very nature have to have an eye on the economics.
Andrew S. 12.30.08 at 11:37 pm
The thing is this. A company has to start somewhere and while we love to hate large corporations, they have to be the ones to make the most changes. But of course we are going to see everything they do as an attempt at green washing. Why? Because we thing they just are doing it to get our buck. Perhaps they are just doing it to save a buck.
Going green makes sense, everyone eventually HAS to do it to survive. That doesn’t mean that you have to like them any more than you did before. You do however need to celebrate the change to encourage more change with them and every other large corporation.
Condo Blues 01.02.09 at 8:47 pm
No company large or small is going to go green overnight so this is a step in the right direction. However, I think that the 100% recycling, while a lofty goal is unrealistic. There are a lot of cities in the US that don’t have plastic recycling programs and I doubt that all Coca Cola drinkers would send their bottles into the company for recycling if they can’t do it through a local program. You’d think such a large and successful company like Coke would know a little more about attainable goal setting.