Coca-Cola sets new environmental targets for 2035

USA – The Coca‑Cola Company has unveiled updated voluntary environmental goals aimed at addressing global sustainability challenges while aligning with its long-term business priorities.  

The new targets, which extend to 2035, replace the company’s previous goals in areas such as water, packaging, climate, and agriculture. 

According to the company, this evolution is informed by decades of sustainability work, lessons learned, and periodic assessments of progress.  

Coca-Cola intends to prioritize actions that improve water security in high-risk locations, reduce packaging waste, and lower emissions, focusing on delivering meaningful environmental and social impact. 

“We remain committed to building long-term business resilience and earning our social license to operate through our evolved voluntary environmental goals,” said Bea Perez, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Communications, Sustainability & Strategic Partnerships Officer at The Coca‑Cola Company.  

She emphasized the complexity of these challenges and the need for collaboration with partners to drive effective resource allocation and lasting outcomes. 

Coca-Cola’s updated climate targets aim to align with a 1.5°C global warming trajectory. The company plans to reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 2035, using a 2019 baseline.  

This marks a shift from its previous goal of a 25 percent reduction in absolute emissions by 2030 against a 2015 baseline. 

In packaging, the company has set two primary goals for 2035. The first is to increase the use of recycled material in primary packaging—comprising plastic, glass, and aluminum—to between 35 percent and 40 percent, with recycled plastic use rising from 30 percent to 35 percent.  

The second target is to collect 70 percent to 75 percent of the equivalent number of bottles and cans it introduces into the market each year.  

Coca-Cola also reaffirmed its support for refillable packaging where infrastructure allows but has not included a specific goal for this category. 

Water conservation remains a significant focus. Coca-Cola aims to return more than 100 percent of the water used in its finished products globally, a goal the company claims to have met since 2015.  

Additionally, it plans to return 100 percent of the total water used in over 200 high-risk locations to nature and communities. 

While the company will no longer set a specific voluntary goal on agriculture, it stated its commitment to working with suppliers and stakeholders to support sustainable sourcing initiatives and improve the livelihoods of farmers. 

The Coca-Cola Company plans to monitor its progress annually and adjust its strategies based on evolving market dynamics, stakeholder needs, and new insights. 

Perez highlighted the importance of partnerships and collaborative efforts in achieving these ambitious goals, stating that shared value creation is central to the company’s sustainability vision. 

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