Greenwash: Are Coke's green claims the real thing?  Coca-Cola
has pledged to become 'water neutral'. But what does that
actually mean, asks Fred Pearce     • Jump to comments () Coca-
cola bottle Coke uses 300bn litres of water a year. Photograph:
AP  Are Coke's environmental claims the real thing? After making
a big contribution to the coffers of the World Wildlife Fund,
Coca Cola has been pledging to the world that it is going "water
neutral", most recently at a business conference in San
Francisco this week.  It is an intriguing phrase. But can a
company whose products have water as their principal ingredient
really go water neutral? And is WWF wise to proclaim Coke as a
"partner" – even in return for Coke's contribution of $23m
(£15m) to the fund's protection of the world's rivers? Is this
greenwash?  Don't get me wrong. Any company that uses a lot of
water in its business – and Coke uses 300bn litres a year –
should be encouraged to consume less. And we should not
necessarily decry their efforts, even if