YARAT joined Coca-Cola Company's environmental project

350 volunteers cleaned up 3.5 tons of litter from Mardakan, Azerbaijan

YARAT supported the event, along with other major organisations in Azerbaijan

Within the framework of the Annual International Coastal Clean-up Day, more than 3.5 tons of litter and debris was removed from the coastal area in Mardakan. The event was held on 21st September and was initiated by The Coca-Cola Company, which has been supporting it all over the world for twenty-eight years already. This year the event is supported by the National Olympic Committee, Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy, YARAT Contemporary Art Space, ASAN Service, JSC Təmiz Şəhər, Green Baku Club, Friends of Nature Club, online youth magazine ALLmag and Educational Centre BLBS. The event caused a big interest among population of Baku, involving around 350 volunteers.

Coca-Cola Operations Manager in Azerbaijan Gabil Ahmedov: "When we started this campaign, our aim was not only to clean the beaches, but also to support environmentally friendly behaviour. If you follow the history of the Coastal Clean-up in Azerbaijan, you would notice how the number of people has grown every year, as the number of littered beaches in Absheron has dropped. We are happy that this campaign in Azerbaijan is so successful. We express our deep gratitude to those who have supported us over the years and shown their civil position, which everyone should follow for the sake of a safe environment."

Commenting on the initiative, Executive Vice-Rector of ADA, Fariz Ismayilzade said: "For the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy, supporting the implementation of this project is the index of recognition of 'green responsibility' that we have been carrying out since we we began.

The campaign was held under the 'Pick it Up. Clean it Up. Sea Change!' slogan. In addition to the Coastal Clean-up, there was the exhibition of a few works of Azerbaijani contemporary artists that had been earlier presented at Participate! Baku Public Art Festival 2013, organised by YARAT Contemporary Art Space.

The coast of Mardakan village was cleaned of plastic and glass bottles, cans and other litter and debris. Participants were provided with transport, branded T-shirts, as well as cold beverages, lunch, and cleaning items by the Coca-Cola Company.

The International Coastal Clean-up day is The Coca-Cola Company's premier litter abatement partnership and the world's largest single-day volunteer effort to eradicate litter and debris from beaches, inland waterways and oceans. In 2012 in the framework of the same action, Shuvelan coastline was cleaned up. All over the world, twenty-four thousand of the Coca-Cola Company friends from twenty-seven countries joined the initiative, which resulted in 2.1 thousand kilometres of coastline being cleaned up. And this number increases every year.

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, the company's portfolio features sixteen billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, they are the main provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy their beverages at a rate of more than 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, the company is focused on initiatives that reduce their environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for their associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where they operate. Together with their bottling partners, they rank among the world's top ten private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo or visit the blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com