Coca-Cola Joining Fight Against Flab, Pollution

(RTTNews) - Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc said on Tuesday it plans to reduce calories per liter by 10 percent across its entire portfolio by 2020.

The announcement comes at a time when consumers' preference for healthier beverages is on the up and concerns of obesity on the rise.

Coca-Cola Enterprises also has focus on combating pollution, indicating plans to slash its carbon footprint by 2020, having already reduced it by 29 percent in absolute terms, since 2007.

The company also plans to ensure that by the year 2020, 40 percent of the PET it uses is recycled PET and/or PET from renewable materials.

"Our new commitments embrace both environmental and social issues - with a stronger focus than ever before on promoting the well-being of our consumers," said Coca-Cola Enterprises CEO John Brock.

Sales of soft drinks have slackened over the years as consumers cut down on consumption over health concerns. According to a March report by industry tracker Beverage Marketing Corp, soda consumption in the U.S. fell 1 percent in 2014 to 12.76 billion gallons, the 10th straight yearly decline.

Coca-Cola Enterprises is the world's largest independent Coca-Cola bottler. The company bottles Coca-Cola Co products for countries including Great Britain, Belgium and France.