FDBusiness.com

Coca-Cola Enterprises has launched a new €16 million preform injection line at its site in Grigny, France. With this new line, the site will now be able to produce its own bottle preforms, which will then be blown up during the manufacturing process to become one of the every-day bottles used on site.

Founded in 1986, Coca-Cola Enterprises’ manufacturing site in Grigny exclusively produces PET bottles. The site has benefitted from an investment of €54 million since 2009. The challenge has been economic and environmental but also quality-related: taking over the manufacturing of preforms, optimizing costs, reducing the volumes transported (already 266,000km reduced in less than a year) and controlling finished products. This is a huge industrial advancement which will be a reference in the food & beverage industry in France.

“The investment we have made in Grigny illustrates our commitment to produce locally, across all the territories where we operate. This is how we serve our clients and consumers better, whilst affirming our commitment to support the development of a circular economy”, says John Brock, Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises.

Preforms for 1.5L PET bottles will be made from up to 50% recycled PET plastic pellets, in Grigny. The pellets will be derived from production at Infineo, CCE’s recycling joint venture in partnership with APPE, European leader in recycled PET. In 2013, €8.7 million was invested into this structure to build a new line, subsequently enhancing the PET recycling industry in France.

In addition to the industrial project, Infineo also has an education centre dedicated to the circular economy, which aims to host 5,000 young people per year.

CCE’s drinks are consumed in 8 out of 10 homes in France. CCE employs 2,600 people in France and in 2012 purchased €400 million goods and services from French suppliers.

A survey conducted by research firm Xerfi estimated that 36,000 indirect jobs are generated by Coca-Cola in France and its entire value chain. The ratio of 1 direct job for 12 indirect jobs is explained by the ability to generate economic activity around the products, and lead the dynamism of the entire sector.

“By producing close to places of consumption, we gain agility and flexibility to best meet our customers’ demands and our consumers’ expectations. With this major investment in our site in Grigny, we reiterate once again our anchor in local communities,” says Hubert Patricot, European President of Coca-Cola Enterprises.