Coca-Cola Revises Sustainability Goals, Delays Key Targets

Coca-Cola has updated its environmental goals for 2035, revising commitments on packaging, emissions, and agriculture while delaying key targets. The company reduced its recycled content goal for packaging to 35%-40% by 2035, down from 50% by 2030, and scaled back its collection target to 70%-75% from its earlier aim of 100% by 2030.

Coca-Cola also removed its refillable container goal, opting to focus on markets with existing infrastructure. Efforts will now center on improving packaging recyclability, increasing recycled material use, and enhancing local collection systems.

In water management, Coca-Cola retained its goal to replenish over 100% of the water used in products globally, extending commitments to include 200 high-risk locations by 2035. The company replaced its 2030 climate target of a 25% absolute emissions reduction with a new goal to align Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions with a 1.5°C trajectory by 2035, using a 2019 baseline.

Additionally, Coca-Cola dropped its sustainable agriculture target but committed to ongoing efforts with suppliers to reduce water use, prevent deforestation, and improve agricultural practices.

Bea Perez, Coca-Cola’s EVP for Sustainability, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to environmental goals while emphasizing the challenges and the importance of collaboration to achieve meaningful progress. These revisions highlight Coca-Cola's recalibration as it faces growing pressures to balance business demands and sustainability efforts.