Uxbridge-based CCEP invests in new carbon capture partnerships

Published by

Sam Pither

Uxbridge-based Coca-Cola Europacific Partners has announced funding for two new carbon capture research projects, as it targets a 30 per cent reduction in absolute greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2030.

Through its innovation investment arm, CCEP Ventures, the independent Coca-Cola bottler has announced investment into Universities in Spain and the Netherlands to develop their carbon capture and upcycling research.

The projects will look into the potential for captured carbon dioxide to be converted into products needed in the supply chain such as packaging and sugar, used to carbonate the soft drinks CCEP sells or in the creation of synthetic fuels.

Craig Twyford, Head of CCEPV, said: "We are challenging ourselves to think differently about CO₂, which is so often only seen as a dangerous waste product. What if we could not only take CO₂ out of the atmosphere, where we know it’s causing harm but also turn it into something useful? Then we could start thinking of it as a valuable resource.

“Funding these projects is an exciting opportunity for us to be at the forefront of scientific discovery and innovation. We think it has the potential not only to significantly impact our operations, but it could also be rolled out across different industries to reduce GHG emissions and make better use of the carbon in our atmosphere.”

The partnerships with research groups at Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain and the University of Twente in the Netherlands mark the third time CCEPV has collaborated with scientific institutions to develop sustainable technology solutions.

In 2020, CCEPV funded CuRe Technology, a recycling start-up that seeks to provide a new lease of life for difficult-to-recycle plastic polyester waste, then in 2022 it announced a partnership with the Peidong Yang Research Group at the University of California Berkeley to develop scalable methods of converting CO₂ into sugar.

Representatives from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Dr. Fèlix Llovell and Dr. Alberto Puga said: “We are delighted to be working with CCEP Ventures and to play a role in reducing the environmental impacts of manufacturing through emerging technology. Our partnership with CCEPV will accelerate the development of important technical solutions to capture carbon from the air and generate usable materials from CO2.”

Representatives from the University of Twente, Prof. Dr. Ir. Gerrit Brem and Dr. Abhishek Singh said: “As the need to improve the health of the environment and our planet becomes more pronounced, it is vitally important that businesses globally take a proactive approach to developing and funding new-age solutions to the climate problem. We’re greatly encouraged by CCEPV’s action in this space and are pleased to be working with them to realise their vision.”

Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset. A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise. Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.