Almot Maqolo, Staff Writer 
SCHWEPPES Zimbabwe says it is working on reducing its waste and carbon footprint by 25 percent as part of efforts to mitigate its negative environmental impact during operations.
As global concerns about climate change, social inequality, and corporate misconduct grow, investors and consumers are increasingly demanding transparency and accountability from businesses.
Local companies have been recognized for enhancing their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, which are increasingly relevant to investors and stakeholders
ESG reporting is a set of standards measuring a business’s impact on society, the environment and how transparent and accountable it is.
“We are currently looking at the use of retainable PET, just like the way we do glass. I know there are already Coca Cola plants that have already implemented this. So, this is a near future for us,” Farai Chigumira-Mukunyadze, Schweppes Zimbabwe sustainability and innovation manager, told the Safety and Health at Work (SHAW) conference in Victoria Falls recently.
“Under climate change, we look at also trying to reduce our emissions by 25 percent using the baseline of 2050, also aligning to the national agenda 2030 and the global agenda 2030 and 2050.”
This initiative, driven by the urgent need to combat climate change, marks a significant shift in the company’s operational strategy.
Schweppes, like many other manufacturing companies in the country, has been hit by load shedding, which lasts up to over 18 hours per day, resulting in reduced production.
In 2019, the beverage company invested US$2 million for the new roof-top solar system.
The plant was expected to generate a daily total of 1MW against a daily maximum demand of 1,5MW.
“We are also trying to increase it to 1,2MW. It is grid tight.
We do not have batteries and are also trying to solarise a number of our sites.
We have got a ground mounted solar system also at our Beit Bridge producing plant.
“We do have net metering licenses. We are actually importing back into the grid and we have started enjoying the benefits where they offset our bill; they offset the revenue of the electricity that we use,” she said.
The company is also working towards implementing an environmental management system, targeting 2026 for its first certification and audit.
The company has examined trends in the beverage industry related to climate change, health, and wellness.
The firm explored emerging trends in technology, particularly artificial intelligence, data safety, and data protection.
“We are also focusing on automation.
We have recently installed, but not yet officially commissioned, a high-speed tech line,” she said.
Experts have called on authorities to introduce tax incentives for companies publishing sustainability reports to encourage a shift toward a more socially conscious form of stakeholder capitalism.
Companies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange have been reporting on their ESG initiatives as part of their financial disclosures since January 2024.
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