Water Pressure

Ariana Lindquist for TIME

Spin cycle
A worker vets Sprite at Coke's Shanghai plant where wastewater is cleaned before being discharged

The global-warming debate has introduced some new catchphrases into the business lexicon. Becoming carbon neutral, for example, is now a goal for multinationals like Dell, HSBC and Tesco. But for another well-known international brand, becoming carbon neutral isn't enough. Last June, Coca-Cola CEO Neville Isdell flew to Beijing and pledged that his company would become "water neutral" — every drop of water it uses to produce beverages would be returned to the earth or compensated for through conservation and recycling programs. "Water is the main ingredient in nearly every beverage that we make," Isdell said. "Without access to safe...

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