Coca-Cola looks to convert polluting Russian plant

Coca-Cola looks set to convert a Russian paper mill blamed the polluting the country's iconic Lake Baikal into a bottling plant.

Russian authorities have confirmed that the company's partner in the country, Coca-Cola HBC, is set to send a team to the Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill (BPPM) on January 21st, Reuters reported.

The mill has been blamed by Russia's environment agency, RosPrirodNadzor, and numerous environment groups for dumping waste from a chlorine bleaching process into the lake, which is the world's largest body of fresh water.

Last month the government body launched a $129.3 million (£65 million) lawsuit against the mill's owners for the unlicensed use of water from the lake, and they have supported plans for Coca Cola to convert the plant into a non-polluting bottling operation.

The agency's deputy head, Oleg Mitvol, told the website: "RosPrirodNadzor will, from its side, support Coca-Cola HBC Eurasia and has already provided the company with information about BPPM."

Last year Coca-Cola announced it would be reducing the weight of its glass contour bottles in a bid to promote green procurement and reduce carbon emissions. ADNFCR-1231-ID-18423426-ADNFCR