Coca-Cola’s Sustainability Journey: A Look Back and the Path to 2035

Coca-Cola has long been a global leader in the beverage industry, but its commitment to sustainability has been an evolving journey. From water conservation and sustainable packaging to reducing carbon emissions, the company’s efforts reflect a mix of innovation, learning, and recalibration. With its newly announced 2035 goals, executives aim to address critical environmental challenges with renewed focus and extended timelines.

Building on Decades of Sustainability Efforts

Water Stewardship

Water is the cornerstone of Coca-Cola’s products and operations, making it a natural priority for sustainability efforts. In 2015, Coca-Cola achieved a significant milestone by replenishing 100% of the water in its beverages globally. This goal was met or exceeded annually, setting a benchmark for water stewardship across industries.

The company’s new targets aim to address localized water challenges. Coca-Cola has identified over 200 high-risk locations—almost one-third of its global operations—where it will return 100% of water used to local ecosystems and communities. These high-risk areas, identified through updated analyses, will see targeted investments in water efficiency, safe water return initiatives, and ecosystem restoration. To ensure long-term alignment, Coca-Cola plans to reassess the risk profiles of these locations every five years.

Packaging and Recycling

Coca-Cola’s commitment to reducing packaging waste and supporting recycling infrastructure dates back decades. The company introduced its "World Without Waste" initiative in 2018, targeting 100% recyclable packaging and a bottle or can collection rate equivalent to sales. While those goals remain aspirational, the updated 2035 targets reflect a more incremental approach:

• Recycled Materials: By 2035, Coca-Cola aims to use 35-40% recycled materials in its packaging, including 30-35% recycled plastic content.
• Collection Rates: The company plans to collect 70-75% of the bottles and cans it sells annually.
• Refillable Packaging: Coca-Cola is doubling down on refillable packaging in regions with existing infrastructure to support it.

Nearly all of Coca-Cola’s primary consumer packaging (over 95%) is recyclable, but the company acknowledges that gaps remain. Efforts to address these gaps will focus on design innovations, lightweight packaging, and supporting policies to improve collection infrastructure.

Tackling Carbon Emissions

Coca-Cola first outlined carbon reduction goals in 2019, aligning with global efforts to mitigate climate change. Its updated 2035 targets reflect a more rigorous commitment to a 1.5°C trajectory, focusing on reducing Scope 1 (direct), Scope 2 (indirect from energy), and Scope 3 (supply chain) emissions.

Key elements of the emissions strategy include:

• Expanding renewable energy use across operations.
• Investing in innovative technologies to reduce emissions in concentrate manufacturing and bottling.
• Collaborating with bottling partners and suppliers to tackle Scope 3 emissions, which form the bulk of Coca-Cola’s carbon footprint.
• Preparing acquired businesses—such as Costa Coffee and fairlife—for future integration into emissions reduction strategies.

While these efforts are ongoing, Coca-Cola recognizes the complexity of emissions reductions, particularly across a global supply chain with varying regulatory and infrastructural environments.

Agricultural Sustainability

Coca-Cola has long focused on agricultural practices, particularly reducing water use, preventing deforestation, and supporting sustainable sourcing. While the company is discontinuing formal agricultural goals, it remains committed to partnering with suppliers and stakeholders to advance sustainable farming practices. This includes conserving high-risk areas and improving the livelihoods of farmers who produce Coca-Cola’s ingredients.

Updated 2035 Goals

The company’s new environmental goals focus on three primary areas, marking an evolution in its sustainability strategy:

• Water: Continue replenishing 100% of water used globally and in high-risk locations, and commit to reassessing facility risk profiles every five years.
• Packaging: Increase the use of recycled materials in packaging to 35-40% and achieve a 70-75% collection rate for bottles and cans.
• Emissions: Reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions to align with a 1.5°C climate trajectory.

While the company is retiring its agricultural goals, it will maintain initiatives to promote sustainable farming and reduce water usage in agricultural supply chains.

A Collaborative Approach

Coca-Cola acknowledges that achieving these goals will require more than internal action. Collaboration with governments, industry peers, civil society, and local communities is central to its strategy. Bea Perez, Coca-Cola’s Executive Vice President and Global Chief Communications, Sustainability & Strategic Partnerships Officer, emphasized the importance of partnerships:

“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.”

To support these efforts, Coca-Cola plans to continue reporting on its progress annually, adapting its strategies to align with market dynamics, new learnings, and stakeholder needs.

Looking Ahead

Coca-Cola’s updated 2035 sustainability goals reflect a shift toward pragmatism and incremental progress rooted in decades of experience. The company addresses critical global challenges while balancing business priorities by focusing on water, packaging, and emissions.