Leading AN ICON

COCA-COLA AMATIL HAS COME THROUGH COVID-19 A LITTLE BRUISED AND BATTERED, BUT THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF ALISON WATKINS, THE BEVERAGE GIANT IS PROVING IT HAS PLENTY OF BOTTLE.

- WENDY KAY

Alison Watkins was so ready to take on 2020. The Group Managing Director of Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) was looking forward to signing offon some pretty big decisions, while driving existing strategies even further to ensure the company remains one of the largest bottlers and distributors of beverages throughout the Asia–Pacific region.

After more than six years in the job, working closely with the company’s major shareholder Coca-Cola, Alison was relishing the task ahead of her, which included expanding the company’s environmental sustainability commitments. The to-do list ahead saw 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles; working with and investing in startups to build entrepreneurial capability; having a third of board, senior executive and management positions occupied by women; and continuing the fight against obesity with smaller packaging, reduced sugar content and clearly labelled ingredients and calories.

Sustainability was paramount and goals for 2020 included the company’s commitment to improving water intensity for non-alcoholic beverages to no more than 1.95L/L and improving water intensity for alcoholic beverages by 25 per cent; delivering a 25 per cent carbon reduction for the ‘drink in your hand’; ensuring that 60 per cent of energy requirements come from renewable and low-carbon sources; developing a business case for 50 per cent recycled plastic in PET containers in Australia; and ensuring 80 per cent of spend with suppliers is covered by responsible sourcing assessments.