Four ways the Coca-Cola Foundation and partners are helping protect water for the next generation

Punakha District, Bhutan. Credit: Shutterstock

Water is essential for life, communities, and industries worldwide. The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) is supporting global efforts to safeguard vital water sources through conservation projects and partnerships.

Since 2015, Coca-Cola reports that it has replenished more than 100% of the water used in its finished beverages. “We are committed to maintaining healthy, resilient watersheds for communities that depend on them,” said Carlos Pagoaga, president of TCCF.

Restoring the Eastern Himalayas

Deforestation and soil erosion in West Bengal have disrupted local livelihoods. “Rainfall would strip away the soil, making it harder to farm and build a future for our children,” said Prabhat Rai, a local farmer.

A 2024 initiative by Conservation International, backed by TCCF and Inditex, is helping to restore forests, riverbanks, and mangroves across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. The project aims to plant one billion trees and restore one million hectares of forest by 2030.

Replanting California’s forests

Rising wildfire activity in the western United States has devastated forests and watersheds. In response, TCCF and American Forests launched a three-year project to restore over 1,700 acres of land affected by the 2021 Caldor Fire in California’s Eldorado National Forest.

Between March and April 2024, 332,000 trees were planted. Later in the year, 1,500 bushels of cones were collected for future replanting. The restored watershed is expected to save up to 1.2 billion liters of water annually.

“There’s hope in these cones for future forests,” said Leana Weissberg, California director at American Forests.

Reviving the Danube River Basin

For over a decade, TCCF has supported the Living Danube Partnership, an initiative focused on restoring Europe’s second-largest river basin. Over 80% of its wetlands and floodplains have been lost, affecting biodiversity and water quality.

Since 2021, restoration projects across Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, and Romania have replenished 13.45 million cubic meters of water annually and rehabilitated over 5,000 hectares of wetlands. The next phase will expand these efforts to six more countries.

Repairing catchments in southern Africa

The Great Limpopo River Basin, spanning Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, is experiencing declining groundwater levels due to climate change and invasive plant species.

A Conservation International initiative, co-funded by TCCF and Global Affairs Canada, is working to restore the watershed, improve water governance, and promote sustainable farming practices. “This investment is about more than restoration—it’s about securing a sustainable future,” said Tonderai Makoni, executive director of the Vembe Biosphere Reserve.

These initiatives highlight ongoing global efforts to protect crucial water sources amid growing environmental challenges.