• Sustainable Innovation: Climeworks uses Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology to supply Coca-Cola HBC with CO₂ captured from the atmosphere.
• Carbon-Neutral Product: Valser, the first CO₂-neutral sparkling water in Switzerland, sets a new standard for the beverage industry.
• Industry-Wide Potential: This partnership demonstrates the feasibility of air-captured CO₂ for food and beverage production, addressing carbon shortages.

Climeworks Partners with Coca-Cola HBC to Produce Carbon-Neutral Sparkling Water

Swiss-based Climeworks, a leader in direct air capture (DAC) technology, has teamed up with Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (HBC) to launch Valser, the world’s first CO₂-neutral sparkling water in Switzerland. The innovative partnership aims to address two major industry challenges: reducing emissions and providing a sustainable source of CO₂ for food and beverage production.

How It Works

Climeworks’ DAC technology captures CO₂ directly from the atmosphere. The process uses large fans to draw air into collector units, where specially designed filters capture CO₂ molecules. Once the filters are saturated, they are heated to around 100°C to release concentrated CO₂, which can then be collected and repurposed.

“Coca-Cola HBC Switzerland has been an exceptionally supportive partner and invaluable in moving the application of DAC in the beverage industry forward—something we are very thankful for,” said Dr. Christoph Gebald, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Climeworks.

A New Standard for Beverages

The collaboration not only tackles the issue of excessive emissions but also offers a practical solution to the recurring problem of CO₂ shortages in the food and beverage industry. With approximately 70% of CO₂ produced in the US used by this sector, DAC technology provides a consistent and sustainable source of carbon dioxide.

“We are excited by the chance to collaborate with a beverage industry leader as part of our overarching goal of capturing 1% of global CO₂ emissions by 2025,” stated Jan Wurzbacher, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Climeworks.

Related Article: The Coca-Cola System: Refreshing Local Economies and Communities Worldwide

Expanding Applications Beyond Beverages

The partnership with Coca-Cola HBC Switzerland marks a significant milestone, but Climeworks’ ambitions extend beyond the beverage industry. The company recently launched Orca, the world’s largest DAC and storage facility in Iceland, with the capacity to remove up to 4,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Climeworks is also exploring applications for its captured CO₂ in agriculture and carbon-neutral fuel production.

By integrating air-captured CO₂ into Valser, Climeworks and Coca-Cola HBC demonstrate the feasibility of using DAC technology to meet food and beverage industry standards, paving the way for broader adoption and showcasing the power of innovation in combating climate change.