The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, and its bottling partners announced that 100 percent of their new vending machines and coolers will be hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-free by 2015. The announcement is a direct result of the company’s work with Greenpeace that began in 2000, the company says.

“Climate change is real and the time to act on solutions is now,” said Muhtar Kent, The Coca-Cola Co.’s chairman and chief executive officer in a statement. “Greenpeace has played a critical role in raising our awareness about the need for natural refrigeration. Our announcement today demonstrates a commitment to use our influence in the marketplace to drive innovation and help shape a low-carbon future.”

The transition to HFC-free refrigeration will reduce the equipment’s direct greenhouse gas emissions by 99 percent, the company says. Currently, the company uses two HFC-free solutions: hydrocarbon refrigeration for smaller refrigeration equipment and carbon dioxide for larger equipment.

The Coca-Cola Co. and its bottling partners will purchase a minimum of 150,000 units of HFC-free equipment, effectively doubling the current rate of purchase. The goal is to purchase 50 percent of all new coolers and vending machines without HFCs by 2012.

“We welcome Coca-Cola’s commitment to tackle climate change; large enterprises have both an opportunity and responsibility to change the game, and Coca-Cola’s action leave no excuse for other companies not to follow,” said Kumi Naidoo, executive director at Greenpeace International, in a statement.