Turning Waste Heat into a Sustainability Opportunity

What if the heat generated during beverage production could be reused instead of being wasted?

That question inspired Cai Dongning, a Senior Technical Expert at Swire Coca-Cola's Nanjing plant in Chinese Mainland, to explore a new way of improving energy efficiency in our operations which ended up saving more than 90%, or 10,000 tonnes, of steam consumption.

In beverage manufacturing, equipment such as air compressors and refrigeration systems generates significant amounts of heat that is often released into the atmosphere. Recognising an opportunity to put this energy to better use, Cai worked with technical experts to develop the Hot Water Centre (HWC), an innovative system that captures and recovers waste heat for use in production processes. The initiative reflects Swire Coca-Cola's commitment to finding smarter ways to reduce emissions while improving operational efficiency.

The solution was introduced in phases, enabling plants to test, optimise and scale the technology over time. Today, Phase 1.0 has been adopted across Swire Coca-Cola's sparkling beverage plants in Chinese Mainland, reducing steam consumption by up to 20%.

At our Nanjing plant, where all three phases of the system have been implemented, the impact has been even greater. The initiative has reduced annual steam consumption by more than 90%, saving approximately 10,000 tonnes of steam and avoiding around 2,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.


The project demonstrates how innovation can help create value for both the business and the environment. By transforming waste heat into a useful resource, Swire Coca-Cola is improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions and supporting our long-term sustainability ambitions.