Measuring FIJI Water's carbon footprint showed us how best to reduce it: use less packaging materials, incorporate more recycled materials, use less energy at the bottling facility, ensure whatever energy we do use at the facility is cleaner, and use more carbon-efficient transportation.
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 By 2010, we will reduce the amount of packaging we use to make our products by 20%, and increase our use of recycled materials. We will also reduce manufacturing waste at our Fiji bottling facility by 33%. We have started experimenting with production of lighter bottles, and we will know by next year how much of a bottle weight reduction is possible. Our cardboard cartons already contain about 55% recycled content, and we are working with our supplier to figure out how to improve on that. |
By 2010, we will supply at least 50% of the energy for our bottling facility and company-owned vehicles from renewable sources. Wind is the most viable renewable energy source for our bottling facility. We are on track to complete an in-depth model of wind energy potential for the site by early 2009. We are also assessing other renewable energy sources, of which biofuel is the most promising. However, it is critical that the biofuels we use come from sustainably developed sources.
Along with renewable energy projects, we are making the bottling facility more energy efficient so that each bottle of FIJI Water requires less energy to produce.
We are optimizing our logistics to keep the product on container ships for more of the distance to market. Of the major transport modes — ocean freight, air freight, truck, and rail — ocean freight is the most fuel-efficient and produces the fewest emissions per ton carried and distance traveled.1 Transport mode decisions have a big impact on emissions, as shown in these two routes for sending FIJI Water to New York City. While the route through the Panama Canal takes about three times as long to get to New York City, it results in 55% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
We are also improving inventory planning so that we can deliver distributor orders from the nearest warehouse more often. As a result, in the first two months of 2008, our U.S. distributor orders traveled on average 26% fewer miles than in 2006-2007.
1. Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Compared to ocean freight, air freight produces 57 times more CO2 emissions, trucking produces 7 times more, and diesel locomotive produces twice as much.