Coca-Cola's Circular Vision: Water, Packaging & Emissions

Coca-Cola, one of the largest players in the global beverage market, is advancing its environmental commitments with a vision centred on sustainability and circularity.

Operating in over 200 countries with a portfolio of more than 200 brands, including Coca-Cola, Sprite and Costa Coffee, the company impacts both global markets and local communities. Through partnerships with bottling affiliates, Coca-Cola supports a network of over 700,000 people, intertwining economic growth with its renewed sustainability focus.

The company’s updated environmental goals align with its long-standing purpose of "refreshing the world and making a difference," extending this mission into an ambitious vision for 2035.

From sugar reduction to packaging innovation and water stewardship, Coca-Cola has consistently sought to reduce its environmental footprint. This focus is now sharper than ever, as Bea Perez, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Communications, Sustainability & Strategic Partnerships Officer, explains: “We remain committed to building long-term business resilience and earning our social licence to operate through our evolved voluntary environmental goals.”

Addressing water scarcity in vulnerable areas

At the core of Coca-Cola’s sustainability efforts is water security, a resource fundamental to its products and processes.

Since 2015, the company has replenished 100% of the water used in its finished products, returning it to nature and communities. Building on this achievement, Coca-Cola is prioritising 200 high-risk areas that constitute roughly one-third of its operational footprint.

These regions face significant water stress, and the company plans to reassess and update its analysis every five years, including its most recent evaluation in 2024.

In these areas, Coca-Cola’s initiatives include replenishment, improved water-use efficiency, and better local water treatment processes. These efforts ensure the water returned is safe for communities and ecosystems, demonstrating Coca-Cola’s commitment to strengthening local water security.

Innovating packaging for a circular economy

Packaging waste reduction is another pivotal element of Coca-Cola’s 2035 vision. The company aims to boost the recycled content in its primary packaging to 35%-40% and achieve a collection rate of 70%-75% for the bottles and cans it produces annually.

Currently, more than 95% of Coca-Cola’s packaging is recyclable, reflecting significant progress towards circularity. The company employs lightweighting strategies to minimise material use and dependence on virgin plastics, cutting both resource consumption and carbon emissions.

Refillable packaging options are also a priority in regions with established infrastructure, supported by collaborations with governments, industries, and NGOs. These partnerships amplify the impact of Coca-Cola’s packaging innovations, helping reduce environmental harm while meeting consumer needs.

Cutting Scope 3 emissions across the supply chain

Coca-Cola’s commitment to addressing climate change extends to its entire emissions profile, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned or controlled sources, while Scope 2 accounts for emissions linked to electricity generation. Scope 3, encompassing emissions across Coca-Cola’s vast supply chain, presents the most significant challenge and opportunity.

To align with the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement, Coca-Cola uses 2019 as a baseline year and implements renewable energy, innovative technology, and collaborative practices to cut emissions. Packaging and water stewardship play a critical role in these reductions, showcasing the interconnected nature of the company’s sustainability agenda.

While Coca-Cola is not setting new agriculture-specific goals at this time, it remains committed to sustainable sourcing practices. These include water conservation, forest protection, and biodiversity support within its agricultural supply chains, ensuring the resilience of its suppliers and communities.

Cutting Scope 3 emissions across the supply chain

Coca-Cola’s commitment to addressing climate change extends to its entire emissions profile, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned or controlled sources, while Scope 2 accounts for emissions linked to electricity generation. Scope 3, encompassing emissions across Coca-Cola’s vast supply chain, presents the most significant challenge and opportunity.

To align with the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement, Coca-Cola uses 2019 as a baseline year and implements renewable energy, innovative technology and collaborative practices to cut emissions. Packaging and water stewardship play a critical role in these reductions, showcasing the interconnected nature of the company’s sustainability agenda.

While Coca-Cola is not setting new agriculture-specific goals at this time, it remains committed to sustainable sourcing practices. These include water conservation, forest protection, and biodiversity support within its agricultural supply chains, ensuring the resilience of its suppliers and communities.

Commitment to transparency and collaboration

Coca-Cola continues to report annually on its sustainability efforts, reinforcing its dedication to transparency and adaptability.

Bea highlights the importance of collaboration in achieving these goals: “We know we will have more chapters in our journey and that we can’t do it alone.

"Continued collaboration, targeted investments, and well-designed policies are crucial to help create shared value for all.”

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