Coca-Cola aims for zero waste

Coca-Cola Co. is aiming to limit its waste and carbon footprint at this month's Winter Olympics in Vancouver, hoping to push its environmental impact to zero once carbon offsets are accounted for.

The AJC is told that Coca-Cola beverages will be bottled in bottles made partially from plant materials, delivered via hybrid vehicles and electric carts and stored in coolers that turn off at night to save power. Then, the bottles will be compacted and recycled into hats, vests and gloves, which will be donated to a homeless shelter after the games. Coca-Cola, which is flying teams of staffers between Atlanta and Vancouver, also purchased carbon credits.

For Coke, the last few Olympics have provided "a great global footprint" to announce new technologies and environmental initiatives, Katie Bayne, chief marketing officer at Coca-Cola North America, told the AJC.