The Barbados Bottling Company (BBC) stepped out front last weekend in the Barbados International Coastal Cleanup (BICC) initiative, joining the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) in collecting loads of garbage from the island’s beaches.
On Saturday, they collected 483.23 lbs of waste from the Oistins beach.
General manager of BBC, Andre Thomas, said his team was happy to be a part of the annual CYEN beach cleanup, as it aligned with aspects of the company’s broader Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) programme to raise awareness about the impact of waste on natural environments, and to promote a recycling culture.
“We continue to see how initiatives like these not only encourage volunteer participation but also how they raise collective awareness about the importance of adopting and spreading sustainable practices. These collaborative efforts demonstrate how we turn ideas into action towards a cleaner environment for present and future generations,” he said.
Leading his team in the beach cleanup, Thomas added that BBC, as part of the Coca-Cola System operations in the Caribbean, champions a corporate commitment of a ‘World Without Waste’, which seeks to collect the equivalent of 100 per cent of the packaging it puts on the market.
He explained that the idea is for this waste to be transformed, through a circular economy, into new products, including new bottles, closing the loop and contributing to a more sustainable future.
“Transforming waste into valuable resources is key to fostering sustainability. This is how we encourage the proper disposal of recyclable materials and prevent them from ending up in landfills. This approach directly reduces environmental impact and promotes a recycling culture that benefits all of society,” Thomas noted.
CYEN’s national coordinator, Shannon Weekes, acknowledged the continued partnership with the Coca-Cola System and BBC, saying that the collaboration has been significant.
“It has played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth execution of our cleanup activities and also elevated the visibility of the initiative,” she said. “It is encouraging to see the company’s global commitment materialise at the local level, demonstrating its leadership in corporate responsibility and reinforcing the importance of businesses actively participating in environmental conservation efforts.”
The BBC will be out again for a second beach cleanup at Bath, St John on October 20.
(PR/BT)
