The Coca-Cola Company, DEKA R&D, IBM, Inter-American Development Bank
(IDB) Group, McCann Health, NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG), Qualcomm
Technologies, Inc. and UPS®, today announced they will work together to
bring EKOCENTERTM – a kiosk designed to improve the
well-being of communities – to 20 countries by the end of 2015.
Coca-Cola announced its intent, with the help of collaborating
organizations, to deliver EKOCENTER to 150 communities in Africa, Asia,
Latin America and North America at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)
Annual Meeting. This announcement is an expansion of Coca-Cola’s partnership
with DEKA R&D to deliver 1,500 SlingshotTM water
purification systems to rural communities in Africa, Asia and Latin
America by the end of 2015, which aims to deliver 500 million liters of
safe drinking water to an estimated 500,000 people when fully scaled.
Each EKOCENTER will offer a locally tailored mix of products, services
and resources that may include safe drinking water, sustainable energy,
wireless communications, refrigerated vaccination storage, health
education, and other functionality to jump-start entrepreneurship
opportunities and community development. Women and entrepreneurs from
local communities will be recruited to operate each EKOCENTER, creating
new opportunities for employment in the communities where we install and
operate EKOCENTER. Entrepreneurs selected to operate the EKOCENTERs will
be given business skills training similar to that provided by
Coca-Cola’s 5by20 program, an initiative designed to economically
empower 5 million women entrepreneurs across Coca-Cola’s value chain by
2020.
“EKOCENTER represents an investment in the future prosperity and
progress of some of the most fragile and at-risk communities we serve,”
said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company. “Through
EKOCENTER we have the ability to change lives by offering access to safe
drinking water and other needed resources, all while empowering local
entrepreneurs. What started as an aspiration is now becoming a reality
as we welcome our partners across the golden triangle of business,
government and civil society to scale and improve this innovation.”
This collaboration is the first step in Coca-Cola’s long-term vision of
deploying thousands of EKOCENTERs globally in the next decade.
Currently, one EKOCENTER test site has been launched in Heidelberg,
South Africa, and there are plans to install one additional EKOCENTER
pilot by the end of 2013.
Through this cross-sector collaboration, Coca-Cola intends to marry its
skills and know-how with that of other industry leaders to optimize and
scale the EKOCENTER concept. Partners are expected to bring financial
and in-kind support, including:
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The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners will lead the
project, managing the site selection, installation and maintenance of
each EKOCENTER. They also will utilize their local operations to
support on-the-ground needs and serve as a distribution channel for
EKOCENTER placements. The Company led the EKOCENTER vision and design
as well as the creation and installation of the prototype unit in
South Africa.
-
DEKA R&D will supply its SlingshotTM water
purification system as well as design and infrastructure expertise to
build and install EKOCENTER. DEKA R&D supported the design and
creation of the first EKOCENTER test site in South Africa and also has
an additional partnership
with Coca-Cola to deliver safe drinking water using Slingshot
technology at schools, health clinics and community centers in Africa
and Latin America.
-
IBM will contribute technology and business consulting services
to provide high-level business plan development and technology plan
development for EKOCENTER. IBM also will explore and advise on
potential technology applications for treating return water.
-
IDB will provide funding and implementation support for
EKOCENTER placements in Latin America. It also will help establish
relationships with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to
support health and sanitation education for communities receiving
EKOCENTERs. IDB is a funding and implementation partner for
Coca-Cola’s existing safe drinking water partnership
with DEKA R&D in Latin America.
-
McCann Health, a part of McCann Worldgroup, will work with
Coca-Cola and other partners to create a micro-business model for
EKOCENTER. Additionally, it also will develop consumer-focused health
and sanitation programs and messaging for communities receiving an
EKOCENTER.
-
NRG is the official energy partner for EKOCENTER, providing
solar panels and battery storage to power EKOCENTER, enabling each one
to be a self-sustaining, off-the-grid operation. NRG also is assisting
DEKA R&D with development of the StirlingTM engine
technology which could provide another energy option for EKOCENTER in
the long-term. NRG provided solar panels and battery storage for the
first EKOCENTER test site earlier this year.
-
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Qualcomm Incorporated, will provide guidance to Coca-Cola on the
inclusion of wireless communications technologies, such as mobile
devices and wireless Internet connectivity, for EKOCENTER.
-
UPS will serve as a logistics partner, providing technical
expertise on global operations and deployment of EKOCENTER.
Coca-Cola also intends to work with TechnoServe as a strategic advisor
for EKOCENTER. TechnoServe will help establish a sustainable business
model and a metrics-based monitoring and evaluation plan, as well as
support identifying and training local entrepreneurs for EKOCENTER.
Coca-Cola has a long-term relationship with TechnoServe on key projects
in Haiti and countries in Africa under its 5by20 and sustainable
agriculture programs.
At a broad level, EKOCENTER is intended to be a financially sustainable,
globally replicable social enterprise model, run by primarily local
female entrepreneurs. EKOCENTERs will initially operate with a Slingshot
water purification system, power source and commercial space. The
partnership will then work to grow the technology, once optimally
developed, to be a fully equipped retail outlet.
While EKOCENTER’s core mission is to improve the physical well-being of
people in rural communities, focused on providing safe drinking water to
approximately 45,000 people in its first two years, it also offers other
opportunities to communities. Through EKOCENTER, the partners aim to
empower communities through connectivity to information and the outside
world; provide a safe gathering place; create jobs, skills and services;
and offer incentives for local programs in a community, like recycling
or sanitation services.
The Coca-Cola Company will work with its local bottling partners to
ensure that the EKOCENTER and Slingshot technologies are working
properly, and that the drinking water provided complies with applicable
safe drinking water and health standards. EKOCENTER supports Coca-Cola’s
commitment to replenish the water used in its beverages and their
production, its 5by20 program to economically empower 5 million women
entrepreneurs across its value chain by 2020, and its continued
commitment to foster sustainable communities globally.
The Slingshot water purification technology, developed by DEKA R&D,
utilizes vapor compression distillation technology to turn nearly any
source of dirty water into safe drinking water. The Coca-Cola Company
announced a partnership with DEKA R&D in September 2012 to install and
operate 1,500 Slingshot water purification systems in rural communities
in Africa, Asia and Latin America with pilots starting in South Africa,
Mexico and Paraguay in 2013.
Press Conference
Coca-Cola and the organizations participating in the EKOCENTER
collaboration will be hosting a press conference live from the CGI
Annual Meeting at 11 a.m. ET today for media to learn more about this
partnership. The press conference will be in Press Room D at the
Sheraton New York City for those attending in person. For those
attending remotely, it will be streamed live at https://new.livestream.com/CGI/.
Twitter Chat
@CocaColaCo will be hosting a Twitter Chat today, September 24, from
12:30-1:30 p.m. ET to discuss its EKOCENTER plans and address public
comments and questions. The Twitter Chat will be hosted by Derk
Hendriksen, EKOCENTER program leader, and Dean Kamen, President, DEKA
R&D and inventor of the Slingshot water purification system.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage
company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still
brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's
portfolio features 16 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta,
Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply,
Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling
beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through
the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than
200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of more than 1.8 billion
servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable
communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our
environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe,
inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic
development of the communities where we operate. Together with our
bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers
with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit
Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com,
follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo or check out our blog,
Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com.
DEKA R&D
DEKA Research & Development Corporation, founded in 1982 by Dean Kamen,
has partnered with many medical industry leaders to introduce new
technologies that transform lives. DEKA R&D’s 300 engineering
professionals use a multidisciplinary approach that combines basic
science with advanced technology to identify critical needs and
solutions. DEKA R&D’s activities include the full spectrum of research
and product development, as well as low-volume manufacturing. DEKA R&D
has developed products in robotics, mobility, prosthetics, and energy
generation, and has more than three decades of experience in the field
of fluid control and delivery. DEKA R&D is located in Manchester, New
Hampshire.
About IBM
For more information about IBM's Citizenship programs, please visit www.ibm.com/responsibility.
Inter-American Development Bank Group
The IDB Group provides financial products and technical resources to
assist countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to reduce poverty
and inequality in a sustainable manner. As a leading source of
multilateral financing, the IDB Group seeks to create opportunities for
cooperation in the region. For more information, please visit www.iadb.org
or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/IDBnews.
About McCann Health
McCann Health is a part of McCann Worldgroup, the largest marketing
communications agency network in the world, and is a leading healthcare
agency network owned by Interpublic Group [NYSE: IPG]. Comprising the
world’s most connected health and wellness experts, McCann Health is the
most awarded professional and consumer health communications network
with the largest international expertise spanning 35 countries and 57
offices. McCann Health’s global network includes McCann HumanCare,
McCann Healthcare, McCann Regan Campbell Ward, McCann Torre Lazur,
McCann Complete Medical, the leading worldwide medical communications
practice, and Double Helix, an international healthcare consultancy
focused on working with clients on strategic market research and market
access issues. For more information, visit www.mccannhealth.com.
About NRG Energy
NRG is at the forefront of changing how people think about and use
energy. NRG delivers cleaner and smarter energy choices for its
customers, backed by the nation’s largest independent power generation
portfolio of fossil fuel, nuclear, solar and wind facilities. A Fortune
500 company, NRG is challenging the U.S. energy industry by becoming one
of the largest developers of solar power, building the first
comprehensive electric vehicle ecosystem, and providing customers with
the most advanced smart energy solutions to better manage their energy
use. In addition to 46,000 megawatts of generation capacity, enough to
supply nearly 40 million homes, our retail electricity providers –
Reliant, Green Mountain Energy and NRG Residential Solutions – serve
more than two million customers. More information is available at www.nrgenergy.com.
Connect with NRG Energy on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @nrgenergy.
About Qualcomm
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is the world leader in 3G, 4G and
next-generation wireless technologies. Qualcomm Incorporated includes
Qualcomm’s licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of its patent
portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries,
substantially all of Qualcomm’s engineering, research and development
functions, and substantially all of its products and services
businesses, including its semiconductor business, QCT. For more than 25
years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of
digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to
information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit
Qualcomm’s website,
OnQ
blog, Twitter
and Facebook
pages.
Qualcomm is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the US
and other countries. All Qualcomm Incorporated trademarks are used with
permission.
About TechnoServe
TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to
build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are a nonprofit
organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking
people to information, capital and markets. Our work is rooted in the
idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the
poorest places can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families
and communities. With more than four decades of proven results, we
believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.
About UPS & The UPS Foundation
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range
of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the
facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced
technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Since its
founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible
corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions
to community needs. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation is responsible
for facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global
communities. In 2012, UPS and its employees, active and retired,
invested more than $97.5 million in charitable giving around the world.
The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/foundation.
To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.
Addendum
COMPANY QUOTES
DEKA R&D
“Ultimately, the potential offerings for EKOCENTER are limitless, and
each individual design will be tailored to the local environment to best
fit a given community’s needs,” said Dean Kamen, President, DEKA R&D,
which developed the Slingshot water purification system housed within
the EKOCENTER. “Few projects to date have so ambitiously vowed to help
rural communities through such a tightly linked partnership structure
that incorporates world-renowned organizations from the public, private
and civic sectors. We hope additional organizations will join us to
expedite the positive impact the project will have on communities
globally.”
NRG Energy
“As designed, the EKOCENTER goes a long way to providing the basic
necessities of modern life in challenged communities, the burden of
which falls disproportionately on women and girls,” said David Crane,
CEO, NRG Energy. “NRG is proud to support Coca-Cola with the modularized
solar power that will energize their EKOCENTER program.”
IBM
"IBM is committed to lending its strategic expertise to help The
Coca-Cola Company and its other partners support environmental efforts
that are designed to achieve sustainability and economic opportunity,"
said Stanley S. Litow, IBM Vice President, Corporate Citizenship and
Corporate Affairs, and President, IBM Foundation.
Inter-American Development Bank
“One of the most difficult things to achieve in community-based projects
is making sure that they thrive in the long- term. The developing world
has too many projects that failed after donations ran out,” said IDB
President, Luis Alberto Moreno. “That’s why we applaud all of the
EKOCENTER partners for their commitment to creating a sustainable
business model that will allow communities to rely on this vital
service.”
McCann Health
“We are pleased to be joining Coca-Cola and DEKA R&D, alongside IBM,
NRG, Qualcomm, and UPS to create a highly innovative, robust,
women-centric business model that empowers women and brings new
capabilities to rural communities,” said John Cahill, Global CEO, McCann
Health. “By bringing clean water, electricity and mobile communications
through an integrated platform into some of the most needy communities,
the partners hope to encourage women entrepreneurs and facilitate a
multiplier effect that catalyzes local economies."
Qualcomm
“Mobile is the largest technology platform in history, and Qualcomm
continues to invest in R&D to develop powerful technologies that enhance
connectivity, which is an essential part of the EKOCENTER project,” said
Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, Chairman and CEO of Qualcomm. “Mobile has been
directly contributing to GDP and job growth in emerging regions. We are
excited about the role wireless access to information will play in
driving the positive impact of EKOCENTERs as they launch in communities
around the globe.”
TechnoServe
“Community participation and support is essential to the success of this
endeavor,” said Bruce McNamer, President, TechnoServe. “By working
together with Coca-Cola and its other partners, we will be able to
support creating a long-term, viable business model and operating
structure for EKOCENTER. We will also serve as feet on the ground in the
communities, working with Coca-Cola bottling partners and teams to
ensure the project adapts to the communities it will serve.”
UPS
“UPS is actively engaged throughout the world with its humanitarian
relief non-profit partners by leveraging its logistics and supply chain
expertise to bring relief to communities in crisis, many of which are in
emerging markets,” said Eduardo Martinez, President of The UPS
Foundation. “We strongly believe the EKOCENTER initiative will bring
relief to communities and spur the development and growth needed to
enhance their future prospects and ultimately the global economy will
benefit. UPS is committed to helping Coca-Cola access global markets via
our integrated network in order to improve access to clean water and
other basic services to those in need.”
NOTE TO EDITOR:
Visuals and footage to support the announcement can be downloaded at www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/press-releases/coca-cola-launches-global-ekocenter-partnership-to-deliver-safe-drinking-water-and-basic-necessities-to-rural-communities.
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