You are an intern at Coca$-$Cola working directly for Debra Pinkerton, the NW Regional

Director of Communications and Sustainability at Coca$-$Cola.

Pinkerton sees a wave of consumer and environmental activism advocating for more corporate

accountability and thinks it$$s only a matter of time before public opinion pushes Coca$-$Cola to

consider systemic changes in how it deals with the plastic bottle problem. In some ways, she is

trying to get ahead of the inevitable.

This means Pinkerton needs to understand all the forces at$-$work that might interfere and$/$or

support any possible change in Coca$-$Cola$$s approach to the plastic bottle problem.

Historically, Coca$-$Cola has vehemently opposed $$bottle bills$,$ but Pinkerton is interested in

considering a $$glacial shift$$ in Coca$-$Cola$$s longtime stance on such legislation. But...before

addressing this larger question of a $$bottle bill$,$ she needs to better understand the

recycling$/$litter situation and Keep America Beautiful is at the center of it$.$

Pinkerton$$s Request

Pinkerton is asking you to write a Situation Memo $(1-$pager$)$ focusing on Coca$-$Cola$$s

partnership with the non$-$profit organization, Keep America Beautiful $($KAB$).$ This memo will be

addressed to Debra Pinkerton but, like many deliverables, may be read by a range of

stakeholders in the company. It could ultimately inform a decision to support or suppress a WA

$$bottle bill$.$

Pinkerton reminds you to take ownership of this. She wants YOUR reporting. This information

is only valuable if you honestly approach the Coke$/$KAB situation. She wants your ideas about

what this partnership is really doing for Coca$-$Cola, for better or worse.