The carbon-neutral Chaudfontaine water plant has produced an additional 7.2 million bottles for the Paris 2024 Olympics Games. The Belgian brand emphasizes its contribution to reducing the event's carbon footprint.
The Coca-Cola Group has chosen water produced and bottled in Chaudfontaine in Wallonia as the official water of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Games. The Chaudfontaine site, which does not normally distribute its products in France, was chosen for its proximity to Paris. “We're one of the closest natural mineral water sources,” explains Achmed Boumrah, manager of the plant located in the province of Liège.
Chaudfontaine was also chosen to reduce the company's environmental impact. This is an important issue in view of the commitments made by the Olympics partners to reduce CO2 emissions. The aim is to halve the carbon footprint compared to the London 2012 Games.
© Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
“The Chaudfontaine production site has been CO2 neutral since the end of 2021, certified according to the PAS 2060 standard. To achieve this, we have switched to 100% renewable electricity and reduced the use of fossil fuels thanks, among other things, to electric forklifts. As a result, between 2006 and 2020, our Chaudfontaine mineral water bottling plant reduced its energy consumption per liter of product by 55%, and its fuel consumption by over 65%. We have also taken extensive measures to protect our springs, thus ensuring the purity of our water, which has been naturally filtered in the soil of the Belgian Ardennes for over 60 years. Our management of water use at our production site in Chaudfontaine has received worldwide certification for sustainable water management from AWS (Alliance for Water Stewardship),” explains Achmed Boumrah.
7,2 millions bottles
In addition to its 150 employees, the plant has hired 15 additional seasonal workers since March to enable the 7.2 million bottles to be shipped to Paris. These were transported on trucks powered by biogas or hydrogen. “Our packaging (except for the cap and label) is made from 100% recycled plastic”, explains Achmed Boumrah.
© Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
The Chaudfontaine water will be distributed to the public as well as to Olympics and Paralympics athletes, the group adds. Chaudfontaine also plans to have 700 drink fountains at the Olympic venues, in addition to the bottles sold in the official shops.