Coca-Cola and The Genius of And

Coca-Cola is not the first name you think of when coming up with sustainable companies, but as I listened to Dave Katz (Senior Vice President, Midwest Region, Coca-Cola) speak about his companies relationship to the community it inhabits, a new light shined on the classic coca-cola bottle I've become so accustomed to.

David Katz continually referred to the rhetoric of "The Genius of And." He held it in relation to turning "or" situations into "and" situations. In his case he was referring to thoughts that once held true such as you can either have a heavy, wasteful bottle and have it look good OR you can have a light-weight, post-recycled bottle that is jarring to the eye. Dave Katz applied his theory by stressing that Coca-Cola is no longer accepting "or," and introduced as evidence the 30% plant-based, 100% recyclable, Coca-Cola PlantBotlle. Proof that you can have a light-weight bottle AND have it look good.  

Coca-Cola's theory of "the genius of and" stretches far past their bottle materials. They want people to know that you can recycle AND not go out of your way, that you can use the Earth's resources AND ensure future use for all other generations, and of course you can be a global leader in business AND inspire moments of optimism on an individual level. Coca-Cola may not be the most sustainable company out there, but in terms of progress to a better world, they are among the leaders in the pack. So the next time you are standing at the vending machine or presented with an "or" decision, think of Coca-Cola and uphold The Genius of And. 

Any thoughts of comments are welcome. 

BDL