East Kilbride staff support local clean up efforts
TEAM members from the Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) plant in East Kilbride joined forces with Keep Scotland Beautiful volunteers as part of a clean up operation on the River Clyde.
Helping to support the Commonwealth Games’ Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, around 120 CCEP volunteers took to the River Clyde on 21 July in kayaks or paddleboards to help remove litter from the River Clyde in Glasgow Green.
The team was joined by former Team Scotland cyclist and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Charline Jones as part of the initiative, with the clean up operation coinciding with the final leg of the year-long campaign.
Speaking on the day, Jones said: “The Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics campaign is a fantastic way to bring the Commonwealth together for a common cause and show the power of people working together to achieve this milestone today.
“It gives the King’s Baton Relay extra meaning and seeing the enthusiasm of the volunteers today really shows the appetite in and around Glasgow to look after our waterways for future generations.”
The East Kilbride plant also recently played host to the King’s relay baton as it made its way to the CCEP factory recently in the lead up the games.
Beyond the final River Clyde clean up day, CCEP colleagues, local community groups, customers and other partner organistions joined in a series of of clean-ups coordinated by Keep Scotland Beautiful, helping to prevent litter from entering rivers and oceans.
In addition to this, CCEP will also install interactive ballot bins at Games venues to encourage spectators to recycle their empty drink containers through fun, engaging voting stations. CCEP also said it plans to work closely with venue management teams to support recycling efforts throughout the games.
The final River Clyde clean-up event took place on 21 July as part of the Commonwealth Games’ Clean Ocean Plastics campaign, a year-long initiative which has helped to prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering into Commonwealth waterways.
Jo Padwick, senior sustainability manager at CCEP, said: “Seeing so many volunteers out on and alongside the River Clyde sends a powerful message about what can be achieved when businesses, charities and local communities come together.
“As a local GB business, we’re thrilled to support this initiative, together with Keep Scotland Beautiful, helping keep the River Clyde clean and helping to leave a positive environmental legacy for the Commonwealth Games.”
