EUROPE | CCEP Dongen has played a proud role in the Dutch bottling story since 1957, helping to drive forward the sustainability strategy.
As part of its global ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reach net zero by 2040, CCEP has taken action to reduce the carbon footprint of its operations and commercial sites.
Decarbonising sites like Dongen, which produces around 600 million litres annually, or 85 percent of the drinks sold in the Netherlands, has been key to delivering this ambition.
Underpinning Dongen’s decarbonisation has been the switch to powering the site with local, renewable electricity. To do this, CCEP partnered with Dutch energy company Eneco to source electricity from a nearby cooperative wind farm and a solar park located just 300 metres from the site.
CCEP also had to move away from the remaining fossil fuels used to supply heat to the manufacturing process. So, in 2024, CCEP installed two new electric boilers to replace their natural gas-powered predecessors.
The e-boilers are part of an innovative new ‘Heat Grid’ system that captures residual heat from across the site. Using two new heat pumps and a network of four kilometres of stainless-steel pipework, can transport waste heat from one process to another.
CCEP also invested in smaller changes that, collectively, to make a big difference in energy reduction.
From investing in four new low-pressure compressors, through to upgrading lighting across the site to energy-efficient LED bulbs, and turning down the water temperature of the bottle washing machinery.
CCEP also improved the site's air conditioning system to reduce leaks, and fine-tuned its bottling lines to minimise the release of fugitive CO₂, an often-overlooked source of emissions.
The electrification of the Dongen bottling site is a major milestone – one that shows what’s possible when you combine innovation, local partnerships and a clear strategy to drive down carbon emissions.
It’s a model which has continued across its business, as CCEP tackles the carbon footprint associated with not just its bottling sites, but the entire value chain. From working on agricultural innovations with the suppliers who farm ingredients, to the efforts to reduce the amount of virgin plastic in packaging.
