Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines plans to use biomass fuel in its operations to reduce the bottling plants’ carbon emissions and other environment hazards. The company is widening its sources for renewable energy at all its facilities and bottling plants across the country.
The steam-boiler biomass technology uses discarded rice hull and is fired by gasification method invented by Jayme Ancla, the owner and president of Amertech Industrial Ventures. The technology will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the steam production process of the plant, businessmirror.com.ph reported.
Coca-Cola Export media relations manager Wally Panganiban said a biomass-fueled furnace is in operation in the Ilocos plant, in Meycauayan, Bulacan, and Calasioao in Pangasinan and the company plans to install similar furnaces in all its 23 plants across the Philippines for steam generation.
"The technology satisfies current supply needs of the bottling process on the site," Panganiban said.
The technology will reduce dependency on fossil fuel imports and will also contribute to environmental and social sustainability locally and globally.
About 2,730t of carbon dioxide emission is expected to be reduced annually from one plant, through biomass technology and 365k of rice hull are needed to generate one ton of steam.
Other environment-friendly ideas being implemented by Coca-Cola include recycling programmes, water saving technology and energy efficient lighting.
Coca-Cola focuses its effort on water stewardship, sustainable packaging and climate and energy protection. The Ilocos facility also houses water treatment facility and with the plant's water recovery system, the company saves at least 130,000l of water a week.
The company's Misamis Oriental plant in Mindanao features green technology such as roof rainwater catchment systems, efficient lighting and other technologies that are expected to boost revenue.