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UNESDA Elects Tim Brett, The Coca-Cola Company, as President of European Soft Drinks Association

[vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”4137″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Coca-Cola Western Europe leader to oversee association’s efforts, including commitments to advance sustainable soft drinks packaging and create a healthier food environment

Tim Brett, President, Coca-Cola Western Europe, has been elected President of UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe, the industry association representing the non-alcoholic soft drinks sector in Europe. He will commence his two-year tenure with immediate effect, and assumes the presidency from Stanislas de Gramont.

Following recent UNESDA pledges to make packaging more sustainable by increasing recyclability, collection and use of recycled plastics, and a commitment to reduce added sugars by a further 10% by 2020, Mr Brett acknowledged the strong progress being made and the importance of continued focus. With the upcoming election of a new European Parliament and appointment of a new Commission, Brett reinforced UNESDA’s commitment to serve as a partner with EU institutions to achieve shared goals that help advance the economies and societies the sector serves.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]“For more than 60 years UNESDA has united our industry around a common ambition to strengthen the contribution we make to Europe while serving consumers with the drinks they love,” said Brett. “Our sector has been proud to lead the way in setting out significant goals to create a healthier food environment and make packaging more sustainable. I look forward to engaging with national associations and member companies to further this strong progress and build cross-sector partnerships that will allow us to achieve these priorities together.”

With a value chain of some €185 billion, the European soft drinks industry is a significant contributor to the European economy providing growth, jobs and added value throughout the supply chain. It supports over 1.7 million jobs in its value chain and delivers almost €30 billion in tax contributions to EU member states. There are 424 soft drinks production and bottling plants across the EU, supplied with ingredients from over 137,000 arable farms and producing an estimated 56 billion litres of beverages annually.

Tim Brett has been in his current role since July 2017 and previously served as President of Coca-Cola Japan, where he lived from 2011 to 2017. He currently represents The Coca-Cola Company within FoodDrinkEurope. His previous experience includes several general management positions in Europe, leading Coca-Cola in countries including the Czech Republic, Poland and the Alpine and Adriatic Business Unit comprising Switzerland, Austria, Hungary and the countries that formerly made up Yugoslavia. He holds an MA in History from St. Andrews University in Scotland.

For further information contact:

Sam Rowe, UNESDA communications: +32 475 361286 or srowe@unesda.eu[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Current water challenges

We cannot deny the current water challenges our world is facing. We are experiencing increased water scarcity, with demands for safe, usable water exceeding supply in many areas, including in Europe.

Freshwater use has been growing by about 1% per year since the 1980s and as water demand is expected to continue increasing at a similar rate until 2050, this will account for an increase of 20 to 30% above the current level of water use¹.
This increase in water demand is leading to a reduction of renewable water resources of 24% per capita in Europe².

Around 30% of the European population lives in areas with permanent water stress and up to 70% live in areas with seasonal water stress during summer³.
Europe’s aquatic ecosystems are severely degraded: only 17% of protected river, lake, alluvial, and riparian habitats are in good conservation status and 90% of protected wetland habitats are classified as poor or bad⁴.
Globally, 85% of wetlands have been lost in the last 300 years, with more than 50% lost since 1990⁵. This is particularly critical as wetlands play an important role in filtering water and removing pollutants, as well as providing shelter to wildlife and capturing carbon.

This situation entails severe risks for the world’s population.

For the last decade, the World Economic Forum has placed water-related risks among the world’s top five in its annual Global Risks Report.
Water-related disasters have also dominated the list of disasters over the past 50 years and account for 70% of all deaths related to natural disasters⁶.
Nearly 95% of infrastructure loss and damage reported between 2010 to 2019 were due to water-related disasters⁷.
More frequent and intensive flooding has cost lives and livelihoods across Europe, while at the same time, more than 50% of the continent has, in recent years, been affected by extreme drought conditions, which also breed a range of negative social, economic and human outcomes⁸.

A situation driven by a combination of factors

The deterioration of the natural water cycle stems from a confluence of factors: growing urbanisation, growing populations, increased consumption, poor management, pollution, lack of or damaged infrastructure, and climate change.

Agriculture was responsible for 59% of total freshwater use in Europe in 2017⁹, while industrial and domestic uses are the main drivers of increasing water demand. Indeed, as economies industrialise, populations urbanise and water supply and sanitation systems expand.

Additionally, rising temperatures and more extreme weather patterns are causing more droughts and flooding. Climate variability is also bringing more uncertainty as to the availability, predictability and geographical distribution of water. Water and climate change are inextricably linked. From unpredictable rainfall patterns to shrinking ice sheets, rising sea levels, floods and droughts – most impacts of climate change come down to water (UN Water).

¹ Chart of Global Fresh Water Use 1901-2014 – The Global Education Project

² Water use in Europe — Quantity and quality face big challenges — European Environment Agency (europa.eu)Chart of Global Fresh Water Use 1901-2014 – The Global Education Project

³ Water stress is a major and growing concern in Europe — European Environment Agency (europa.eu)

⁴ Europe’s state of water 2024: the need for improved water resilience | European Environment Agency’s home page (europa.eu)Water stress is a major and growing concern in Europe — European Environment Agency (europa.eu)

⁵ Innovative Solutions Needed for Wetlands in Crisis – SDG Knowledge Hub (iisd.org)

⁶ Water Resources Management Overview: Development news, research, data | World Bank Innovative Solutions Needed for Wetlands in Crisis – SDG Knowledge Hub (iisd.org)

⁷ Water risks and resilience (undrr.org)

⁸ Risks and solutions: how climate change is impacting our water and health | European Environment Agency’s home page (europa.eu)

⁹ Water scarcity conditions in Europe (Water exploitation index plus) | European Environment Agency’s home page (europa.eu)Risks and solutions: how climate change is impacting our water and health | European Environment Agency’s home page (europa.eu)