Cadbury Highlights its Water Efficiency Progress

The global confectionery company, Cadbury, which has a substantial presence in Africa has released a report documenting successes in its water reduction programs worldwide.

The report highlights its water recycling efforts at the company’s Nigerian manufacturing plant and  implementation of hydro power to supply sites in Ghana and elsewhere.

During the week marking World Water Day, Cadbury says it had achieved a 17 per cent reduction in water consumption since 2006 through increasing its efficiency of production, recovery, harvesting and recycling water.

The continuing commitment comes as part of Cadbury’s Purple Goes Green Initiative, launched in 2007.

“Cadbury recognizes that water scarcity, which currently affects two in every four people, is a key issue in a number of areas where it operates. As such, by 2008, Cadbury had successfully achieved its target of having water reduction programs in place in 100 per cent of water scarce sites”, Sarah Singleton, Cadbury sustainability officer, said.

The company works with local communities in areas of water scarcity to achieve water positivity, giving more water back to the watershed than is taken out, employing methods including water recovery and harvesting, or recycling, in the process, according to Singleton.

In June 2007, Cadbury set targets on energy with aim of achieving 50 per cent reduction in our absolute carbon emissions. Its packaging target aimed at a 10 per cent reduction in standard product packaging and a more stretching target of 25 per cent for seasonal and gift ranges.

But Cadbury has an ambitious target of implementing water reduction programs in all of its “water scarce” sites as well as running an advocacy campaign for change with colleagues, suppliers, customers, peers, civil society and consumers.

The full report can be viewed on the company’s website.