For the very first time, The Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company (ECCBC) has won the “Food and Drink Bronze” award in the International CSR Excellence Awards ceremony that took place in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) of London on Monday July 22^nd 2019.

Promoted by The Green Organisation, an international and independent group dedicated to rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world, the International CSR Excellence Awards aims to recognise outstanding achievements from international companies that have proved a firm commitment regarding social, environmental, ethical, human rights and consumer concerns into their business operations and strategy.

ECCBC was awarded for its prominent role in the CSR and sustainability fields. A commitment specially proven by the Let Your Eyes Enjoy! project, whereby the company provides cataract surgeries and prescription glasses free of charge to members of the communities in which it operates who otherwise would not have access to them.

The initiative represents the combined efforts of three key collaborators to remove these and other barriers to visual health. The role of Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company is to prepare all the necessary groundwork for the surgeries to take place smoothly. For its part, the Elena Barraquer Foundation, a non-profit organization on a mission “to return eyesight to the greatest number of people”, contributes its equipment and personnel to carry out the procedures. Finally, Ruta de la Luz of the Cione Group of Opticians, a foundation that seeks to improve the visual health of disadvantaged populations, gives free eye tests and donates glasses to those who need them.

Throughout the last two years the initiative has carried out five campaigns in Cape Verde, Guinea, Ghana and Morocco totaling 2.555 cataract surgeries, 2.704 glasses donated and 4.759 people impacted. Yet the true positive repercussions of each expedition on the local population is incalculable.

“It is a great honor to receive a recognition like this. This award is the proof that our involvement with and contribution to the local community has made a real impact. We will keep working harder than ever so as to achieve new milestones” said Juan de Rueda, Corporate Affairs Director at Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

About ECCBC

Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company (ECCBC) started in 1989 in Africa with the concession of Equatorial Guinea. Subsequently, other countries such as Guinea Conakry, Mauritania, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and The Gambia, joined the venture. ECCBC was founded in 1997 as a new company to combine the operations of all these countries. In the last two decades, ECCBC has expanded operations to Ghana, Morocco and Algeria, and today operates in 13 countries in Africa and employs more than 4000 people. The organization produces, markets and distributes some of the world’s most famous soft drinks including Coke, Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite. ECCBC participates alongside The Coca-Cola Foundation in projects that focus on improving education, access to drinking water, health, entrepreneurial spirit and sustainability.