1940 Advertisement from Australia.

Source: https://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/image-library/1940-advertisement-from-
australia
Coca-Cola and Water in India
A Case Study
The Story of Coca Cola India

• Coca Cola was the leading market player in India until

1977.
• Quit the Indian Market, rather than opting to reveal its
secret formula under the FERA Act.
• Made a come back in 1993, after the liberalisation of
the Indian economy.
• Has made investments of around $1 billion in India.
• One of the largest corporate entities in India today.
Coca Cola India and CSR

•Has setup primary school education projects to benefit poor children

in slums
•Community Based Rainwater Harvesting projects to restore water levels
and
• Spreading awareness about water conservation.
•Offer employment opportunities at its bottling plant near Varanasi to
students from a nearby school for the deaf.

•In 2004, the state of Tamil Nadu named CCI ‘Best Private Company
for its employment of 80 physically challenged youth in Chennai.

•Coca-Cola was also a major donor to tsunami relief efforts across Asia.
Environmental Responsibilities

•Assessing environmental impact before commencing operations.

•Ban on Purchasing any refrigeration equipment containing CFCs.

•Waste water treatment facilities at all company owned bottling

operations.
•Reducing energy consumptions and emission of GHG.

•A PET Recycling Project in Mumbai in partnership with the

Mumbai Municipal Corporation.
Allegations against Coca cola in different parts of India

Groundwater Depletion of Low Harvest Discharge of Bio

extraction water table Yield solids or sludge

Pesticides in the
product.
• Over extraction of Groundwater in the state of Rajasthan.

• Depletion of water table in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

• Low harvest yield was reported in Plachimada, Kerala.

• Discharge of bio solids or sludge to the Ganges river and

other water bodies.

• Pesticides were reported in the product.

Timeline of Events

Aug Oct Dec Feb March

2003 2003 2003 2004 2004

The Center for Science

and Environment (CSE)
issued a press release
alleging soft drinks Coca Cola ordered to Coca Cola’s applica-
contain a ‘deadly stop drawing ground tion for 5 year license
cocktail’ of pesticide water in Kerala. at bottling plant in
residues. Plachimada, Kerala
was rejected.

A parliamentary
Coca Cola hired a committee found
PR company to re- that drinks contained
gain its lost image. unacceptable
amounts of pesticide
residue.
 June Sept Oct-Nov Dec Feb
2004 2004 2004 2004 2005

Rajasthan High Court

Suspended dis- orders to disclose its Protests in US
posal of bio contents. against Coca
solids. Cola’s exploita-
tion in India.
Petition dismissed by
A general negative
supreme court.
sentiment against
Coca Cola.
 April- June 2005

• Conflict between Kerala High Court and Panchayat.

• Global Backlash and Outrage against Coke.

• Truce between
. Coke and Panchayat.

• NGOs and coke locking horns.

• Test Fails at USFDA.

• Allegations and Counter Allegations

Observer Perspective
• Most of the allegations were failed to be proven in court, even though they were
presented as facts to the court.

• As one party was not ready to come to the negotiation table repeatedly, this puts
a shroud of mystery over the allegations levelled against Coca Cola.

• Apart from the incident at Kerala, there was yet another similar public agitation
against Coca Cola, at Babai, Madhya Pradesh, against their exploitation of water
resources in a water scarce area. There have been also allegations of crony capital-
ism.

• The impacts being felt by the communities who live around Coca Cola’s bottling
plants are no small matter. In a country where over 70% of the population still
makes a living related to agriculture, taking away the water and poisoning the re-
maining water and soil had dramatic consequences.
•Final Word
•THANK YOU
Group Members:
Abhinav Bindra 18020841041
Abhishek Dhar 18020841042
Abhishek P James 18020841043
Abraham Derrick Roy 18020841044
Ajit Batra 18020841046
Akreeti Jyoti 18020841047