The company known for more than 100 years for its red and white logo is now being recognized for its use of a different color — green.
The Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Co. on Plank Road was featured on the National Geographic Channel’s documentary series “Ultimate Factories” on March 17.
Melanie Clark, vice president of marketing for the Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Co., said the show will re-air internationally in May once all the episodes from the season have aired.
Clark said the plant first opened in 2009 and was built mainly from recycled materials.
She said the fact that the company built the facility from scratch gave it an advantage when trying to be more environmentally friendly.
She said it’s difficult and costly to add new pieces to old machinery.
Clark said the building is Coca-Cola’s first to be LEED — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — certified, which qualifies the factory as “green.” LEED certification is primarily based on a building’s sustainability.
Clark said the plant recycles nearly every piece of material it uses — plastic, aluminum, shrinkwrap and cardboard.
Clark said the factory uses “green” initiatives in nearly all its endeavors from the high-efficiency lighting that hangs high above workers to the cross-ventilation system that cools the factory floor.
“There’s no way to air-condition a facility this large,” she said.
Clark said the design of the factory and its machinery was also planned to maximize efficiency.
Bins are placed throughout the factory to collect waste materials as soon as they’re discarded. Clark said it helps to guarantee they’re recycled quickly.
Clark said none of the machinery produces any exhaust, and the majority of water used is put into the product itself. Excess water is used to water the lawn outside the factory.
Clark said the machinery can produce about 1,800 cans of soda per minute.
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She said carbonated beverages are filled in a specific facility because the liquid must be kept at about 34 degrees and is warmed to room temperature once the can is filled. Drinks like Powerade and Vitamin Water are filled at 180 degrees and cooled later.
Clark said the factory houses its own water treatment facility and two on-site wells. She said any water used in Coca-Cola products has to be cleaned and must meet a specific pH balance.
“Coca-Cola has very strict parameters,” she said.
Clark said the ingredients that comprise the famous Coca-Cola secret formula are shipped to the factory in two parts and are combined on-site with sweeteners and water.
She said products are randomly tested throughout the day in a quality-control room to ensure excellence.
Clark said about 540 employees work in the 789,000 square-foot plant.
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She said the old factory on Airline Highway was only 300,000 square feet.
Even the factory’s workers are putting forth efforts to go green while on the clock.
Employees travel across factory using bicycles. Clark said the plant didn’t originally offer the use of bicycles, but employees requested them because the factory floor is so large.
Clark said Coca-Cola officials were happy to oblige.
“They don’t use any gas, and they’re great for exercise,” Clark said.
Clark said she was excited the factory was chosen for the program because Coca-Cola has maintained its focus on environmentally friendly initiatives for so long.
“Coca-Cola has been a part of this community since 1906, and we’ve always given back,” she said. “This is part of our legacy for future generations.”
Clark said the factory was the only Coca-Cola plant in the country to be featured on the show and was chosen because of the energy-efficient and “green” techniques it uses.
“It was a great honor,” Clark said. “Out of all the factories out there, we were chosen. It’s so meaningful for us.”
Clark said the show’s producers interviewed several of the factory’s employees and were looking to showcase exactly how the plant works.
“It’s a really interesting and informative piece,” she said.
Rodney Mallett, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality spokesman, said the DEQ recognized the plant in one of its newsletters last year.
“We really try to highlight these kind of things,” he said.
Mallet said the DEQ was even impressed by the factory’s parking lot, which holds 22 spaces for carpoolers and 22 for fuel-efficient vehicles.
Mallet said the reason he’s so excited the factory is being featured on the documentary is that he hopes it will have a positive influence on other factories.
“If more do what they’re doing, we’ll definitely see the benefit,” he said.
Aynsley Smith, international studies sophomore, said she thinks it’s good the Baton Rouge factory was recognized for its efforts because there are so few factories with those initiatives.
“Maybe that will get other factories to do the same thing,” she said.
 
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Contact Zach Breaux at [email protected]