WASHINGTON - Coca-Cola is going green in Washington, D.C. The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises will demonstrate their environmental leadership through a series of innovations designed to reduce the Coca-Cola system??s environmental footprint at each step in the manufacturing, distribution and sales processes. These efforts include climate-friendly beverage coolers, hybrid electric delivery trucks and trailers, and a recycling program for the National Mall and Memorial Parks.

"With more than 6 million visitors each year, there is no better place to launch a comprehensive greening effort than here in the nation's capital where people from all walks of life celebrate our country??s rich history and enjoy our beverages," said Sandy Douglas, president of Coca-Cola North America, in a press release. "We are exploring new ways to protect the environment, and Washington, D.C., is a visible demonstration of the innovation that Coca-Cola is implementing around the country."

"From hybrid delivery trucks to climate-friendly coolers to support for recycling at our National Parks, we are showcasing our innovative approach to going to market in an environmentally responsible way," said Steve Cahillane, president of Coca-Cola Enterprises North America. "Our work in Washington, D.C. and across the United States demonstrates our commitment to supporting sustainable communities."

The House of Representatives will be among the first locations in the country to test new climate-friendly, HFC-free, energy-efficient Coca-Cola coolers. Four beverage coolers will be installed at the House of Representatives in the coming weeks, and up to 1,800 Coca-Cola coolers and vending machines will be deployed throughout the United States and Canada later this year. The new climate-friendly Coca-Cola coolers use carbon dioxide (CO2), a natural refrigerant gas and HFC-Free insulation, eliminating 99 percent of the direct green house gas (GHG) emissions.

Coca-Cola Enterprises has deployed 20 hybrid electric delivery trucks and tractor trailers throughout the Washington, D.C., area in the last year. CCE??s hybrid electric trucks use about 30 percent less fuel and produce about 30 percent fewer emissions than standard trucks, and use technology to drastically reduce emissions when they're idling or in traffic.

CCE will deploy 327 hybrid delivery vehicles throughout the United States and Canada by later this year, the largest heavy-duty hybrid electric delivery fleet in North America. The fleet will include more than 150 hybrid electric tractor trailers, the largest hybrid vehicles in North America, and more than 170 hybrid electric 12-bay delivery trucks.