The Coca-Cola Company, a major producer of billions of bottles and cans annually, has unveiled a fresh set of environmental objectives for 2035, showcasing a shift in its sustainability strategy. These new targets encompass revisions to previous commitments regarding packaging, water stewardship, and carbon emissions. It signifies a recalibration of the company’s long-term environmental approach.
While some goals remain unchanged, others have been adjusted or eliminated. Consequently, Coca-Cola has faced criticism from environmental organizations for scaling back its carbon emissions and other sustainability pledges. Here are the company’s latest sustainability aims, detailed in its updated environmental goals.
Climate Action: A Rethink on Carbon Emissions The beverage behemoth has set a target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, with Coca-Cola in Europe aiming for a more ambitious goal of reaching this milestone by 2040. The company has revised its climate objectives. Previously, the goal was to reduce absolute carbon emissions by 25% by 2030, based on a 2015 baseline. The Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) had classified this target as aligned with a 2°C global warming trajectory. However, the updated 2035 goal no longer includes a specific target for absolute emissions reduction. Instead, Coca-Cola aims to decrease Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions in alignment with a 1.5°C trajectory, using 2019 as a baseline.
This alteration corresponds with more ambitious climate scenarios but lacks the specific percentage reductions outlined in previous targets. This shift has raised concerns about Coca-Cola’s dedication to robust climate action, particularly as the 2015 Paris Agreement calls for significant reductions to combat global warming. According to the company’s 2023 environmental update, Coca-Cola has made progress in reducing its absolute carbon emissions based on original targets: an 8% decline in absolute emissions against a 2015 baseline and a 24% increase in systemwide renewable electricity use in 2023 compared to 2022. Greenhouse gas emissions for three years indicate decreases in both Scopes 1 and 2 in 2023 versus 2021, while Scope 3 emissions (value chain emissions) have risen.
Packaging Goals: A Focus Shift In 2023, Coca-Cola’s operations generated nearly 6 million tonnes of packaging, including 137 billion plastic bottles and 74 billion aluminum and steel cans. This underscores the importance of the company’s focus on sustainability in this area. Packaging has been a cornerstone of Coca-Cola’s sustainability initiatives, notably through its 2018 “World Without Waste” initiative. This program set ambitious targets, such as ensuring all packaging is 100% recyclable by 2025, using at least 50% recycled content by 2030, and collecting a bottle or can for every one sold by 2030.
In its latest update, Coca-Cola reported significant progress in making all packaging recyclable, with 90% already meeting this standard. However, the company acknowledged falling short on other packaging goals. The recycled content target has been adjusted from 50% by 2030 to a new range of 35%-40% by 2035. Similarly, the collection goal has been revised to 70%-75% by 2035, down from 100% by 2030. The goal for refillable packaging has been removed, with the company opting to focus on areas with existing infrastructure for reusable containers. Coca-Cola plans to prioritize increasing recycled content in primary packaging and enhancing collection rates, with a focus on two key pillars: “Design” and “Partner to Collect.”
Water Stewardship: A Broadened Commitment Water management remains a crucial aspect of Coca-Cola’s sustainability framework. The company has reiterated its commitment to replenish more than 100% of the water used in its finished products globally, a milestone consistently achieved since 2015. Additionally, Coca-Cola has expanded its focus on water in high-risk locations, extending the target to encompass all high-risk sites—over 200 locations—by 2035. This broader commitment reflects the company’s increased emphasis on supporting local ecosystems and communities facing water resource challenges.
Agriculture and Sustainable Sourcing Coca-Cola has removed its goal to source 100% of its priority agricultural ingredients according to its Principles for Sustainable Agriculture. Nevertheless, the company has pledged to continue collaborating with suppliers and third-party stakeholders to promote sustainable sourcing practices, with a focus on reducing water usage, lowering emissions, preventing deforestation, and conserving high-risk areas in its supply chain.
From Ambition to Adjustment: A Strategic Recalibration Coca-Cola views these adjustments as a strategic recalibration based on years of sustainability efforts, progress assessments, and emerging obstacles. In a press release, the company acknowledged the complexity of these challenges and the necessity for more efficient resource allocation to achieve significant impact. Bea Perez, Coca-Cola’s Executive Vice President and Global Chief Communications, Sustainability & Strategic Partnerships Officer, stressed the importance of collaboration in addressing these challenges.
Critics argue that the adjustments undermine progress in combating pollution and climate change. Furthermore, advocacy groups are calling on the company to uphold stronger environmental standards. Coca-Cola’s revised targets have sparked renewed criticism, raising questions about the company’s future environmental trajectory.
Coca-Cola’s revised sustainability stance coincides with increasing legal pressures on beverage companies regarding plastic usage. The company’s altered carbon emissions, packaging, and water management goals have faced strong disapproval from environmental organizations. Oceana’s Matt Littlejohn labeled the new approach as “short-sighted” and cautioned that it could worsen the influx of single-use plastics polluting waterways and oceans. The company’s softened sustainability stance amid growing environmental concerns poses challenges for its future environmental commitments.
