The Coca-Cola Company has established itself as a sustainability reporting benchmark, particularly through its robust water stewardship strategies and transparent disclosures. In its comprehensive sustainability statements and annual reports, Coca-Cola integrates business and ESG performance, demonstrating mature alignment with frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).
Water stewardship is central to Coca-Cola’s sustainability mission. In recent years, the company has exceeded its replenishment goals, returning 148% of the water used in its finished products to nature and communities—a significant achievement widely cited in global benchmarking studies. The water risk evaluation system applies contextual assessments and informs targeted conservation actions at local bottling plants. Coca-Cola reports progress on these metrics via spatial mapping and real-time project dashboards.
Coca-Cola’s 2023-2024 Sustainability Statement outlines a science-based approach to greenhouse gas (GHG) management that covers direct (Scope 1), energy-related (Scope 2), and value chain (Scope 3) emissions. Notably, Coca-Cola regularly restates baseline GHG figures when major acquisitions or improved data accuracy require it, maintaining excellent comparability and data quality across reporting periods.
The company demonstrates leadership in packaging innovation by achieving 90% recyclable packaging across product lines. Its public sustainability disclosures detail life cycle assessments, plastic footprint reductions, and community recycling programs in partnership with NGOs and local authorities. The social dimension includes tracking and annual reporting on gender equality programs, supplier diversity, and agricultural community investments. Coca-Cola’s sourcing frameworks support sustainable agriculture for key commodities, with traceability and sustainable certificates for sugar, coffee, and fruits.
Reporting is enhanced by external assurance audits. Coca-Cola aligns reporting cycles with financial statements and provides third-party verified disclosures, increasing stakeholder trust and credibility. The company’s methodology documentation is publicly available, allowing for deep-dive analysis by investors, rating agencies, and benchmarking platforms.
Coca-Cola’s sustainability leadership is recognized by platforms such as the World Benchmarking Alliance, where it outperforms many peers in nature, water management, and community engagement. Its open-access reports and methodologies serve as a model for multinational corporations seeking to integrate sustainability deeply into business operations, risk management, and governance.
For further information: https://www.coca-colacompany.com/content/dam/company/us/en/reports/coca-cola-business-sustainability-report-2022.pdf
