A Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (Coca-Cola): Análise de Pestle [Jan-2025 Atualizada]

Mergulhe no intrincado mundo da Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (Coca-Cola), onde a dinâmica complexa do mercado se cruza com os desafios estratégicos entre paisagens políticas, econômicas, sociais, tecnológicas, legais e ambientais. Essa análise abrangente de pestles revela as pressões e oportunidades multifacetadas que moldam uma das empresas de bebidas mais emblemáticas da América, revelando como as tendências globais, os ambientes regulatórios e as expectativas do consumidor transformam continuamente sua estratégia de negócios. Desde a navegação nas preferências do consumidor para gerenciar inovações tecnológicas e desafios de sustentabilidade, a jornada da Coca -Cola representa um microcosmo fascinante da resiliência e adaptação corporativas modernas na indústria competitiva de bebidas.

Coca -Cola Consolidated, Inc. (Coca -Cola) - Análise de Pestle: Fatores Políticos

Regulamentos da indústria de bebidas dos EUA impactam estratégias de distribuição e marketing

A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aplica requisitos estritos de rotulagem para bebidas. A partir de 2023, as empresas de bebidas devem cumprir as atualizações do painel de fatos nutricionais que entraram em vigor em janeiro de 2020.

Área de conformidade regulatória	Requisitos específicos
Rotulagem de nutrição	Requisitos de tamanho de porção atualizados, divulgação obrigatória de açúcar adicionado
Transparência do ingrediente	Lista completa de ingredientes com quantidades precisas

Políticas comerciais potenciais que afetam o fornecimento de ingredientes globais

A partir de 2024, as tarifas dos EUA sobre ingredientes importados permanecem significativos:

• As tarifas de importação de açúcar variam entre 22,5 a 35,74 centavos por quilograma
• O alumínio pode importar tarifas aproximadamente 10% de determinados países
• Potenciais tarifas adicionais sobre materiais de embalagem de fornecedores internacionais

Tributação local e estadual sobre bebidas açucaradas

Estado	Taxa de imposto de bebida açucarada
Califórnia	Nenhum imposto estadual
Filadélfia	1,5 centavos por onça
Seattle	1,75 centavos por onça

Pressão governamental para opções de bebidas mais saudáveis

Principais métricas regulatórias:

• CDC relata 42,4% dos adultos dos EUA classificados como obesos em 2021
• A FDA recomenda a ingestão diária de açúcar adicionada abaixo de 10% do total de calorias
• Mandatos crescentes de transparência nutricional no marketing de bebidas

Os Centros de Controle e Prevenção de Doenças (CDC) continuam a rastrear padrões de consumo de bebidas, com recomendações contínuas para a redução da ingestão de açúcar.

Coca -Cola Consolidated, Inc. (Coca -Cola) - Análise de Pestle: Fatores Econômicos

Custos de matéria -prima flutuantes que afetam as despesas de produção

Em 2023, a Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. experimentou variações significativas de custo de matéria-prima:

Matéria-prima	Aumento de preço (%)	Impacto no custo de produção
Açúcar	12.4%	US $ 0,037 por unidade
Latas de alumínio	8.7%	$ 0,052 por lata
Garrafas de plástico	6.3%	US $ 0,024 por garrafa

Padrões de gastos com consumidores nos mercados de bebidas

Dados de gastos do mercado de bebidas de consumo para 2023:

Categoria de bebida	Tamanho do mercado ($)	Crescimento ano a ano (%)
Bebidas não alcoólicas	US $ 465,2 bilhões	3.7%
Refrigerantes carbonatados	US $ 192,6 bilhões	1.9%
Bebidas energéticas	US $ 86,4 bilhões	5.3%

Potenciais efeitos de recessão econômica

Consumo de bebidas durante a potencial crise econômica:

• Taxa projetada de sobreposição do consumidor: 14,6%
• Redução de volume esperada: 3,2%
• Aumento da sensibilidade ao preço antecipada: 22,7%

Volatilidade da taxa de câmbio

Taxa de câmbio internacional Impacto em 2023:

Par de moeda	Volatilidade da taxa de câmbio (%)	Impacto de receita ($)
USD/EUR	6.3%	US $ 14,2 milhões
USD/GBP	5.7%	US $ 9,6 milhões
USD/CAD	4.9%	US $ 7,3 milhões

Coca -Cola Consolidated, Inc. (Coca -Cola) - Análise de Pestle: Fatores sociais

Mudança de preferências do consumidor para opções de bebidas mais saudáveis ​​e de baixa açúcar

De acordo com a Statista, o mercado global de bebidas com baixo teor de açúcar foi avaliado em US $ 30,2 bilhões em 2022 e deve atingir US $ 46,7 bilhões até 2027. A Coca-Cola Consolidated respondeu com 38% de seu portfólio agora sendo produtos de baixo açúcar ou zero-açúcar .

Categoria de bebida	Quota de mercado	Taxa de crescimento
Bebidas com baixo teor de açúcar	38%	7,2% anualmente
Bebidas zero de açúcar	22%	9,5% anualmente

Crescente demanda por linhas de produtos sustentáveis ​​e ambientalmente responsáveis

Em 2023, a Coca-Cola Consolidated relatou investir US $ 52,3 milhões em iniciativas de embalagem sustentável. 67% de sua embalagem agora é reciclável, com a meta de atingir 100% até 2030.

Métrica de sustentabilidade	Status atual	Ano -alvo
Embalagem reciclável	67%	2030
Investimento em sustentabilidade	US $ 52,3 milhões	2023

Mudança de padrões de consumo demográfico em diferentes faixas etárias

Os dados da Nielsen mostram que os consumidores da geração Z e da geração do milênio representam 48% do mercado atual de bebidas da Coca-Cola Consolidated, com uma preferência por bebidas funcionais e orientadas para a saúde.

Faixa etária	Representação de mercado	Tipo de bebida preferido
Gen Z	24%	Bebidas funcionais
Millennials	24%	Bebidas orientadas para a saúde

Aumentar a consciência da saúde que afeta as estratégias de desenvolvimento de produtos

Em 2023, a Coca-Cola Consolidated lançou 12 novas linhas de bebidas focadas na saúde, representando um investimento de US $ 78,6 milhões em inovação de produtos direcionando aos consumidores conscientes da saúde.

Inovação de produtos	Número de novas linhas	Investimento
Bebidas focadas na saúde	12	US $ 78,6 milhões

Coca -Cola Consolidated, Inc. (Coca -Cola) - Análise de Pestle: Fatores tecnológicos

Tecnologias avançadas de fabricação e automação de engarrafamento

Em 2023, a Coca-Cola Consolidated investiu US $ 42,3 milhões em tecnologias de automação de fabricação. A empresa implantou 37 novas linhas de engarrafamento robótico em suas instalações de produção, aumentando a eficiência da produção em 22,6%.

Tipo de tecnologia	Investimento ($ m)	Melhoria de eficiência (%)
Sistemas de engarrafamento robótico	24.7	18.3
Linhas de embalagem automatizadas	12.5	15.9
Sistemas de controle de qualidade da IA	5.1	8.4

Plataformas de marketing digital e comércio eletrônico

A empresa registrou US $ 67,2 milhões em despesas de marketing digital em 2023, com as vendas de comércio eletrônico atingindo US $ 214,5 milhões, representando um crescimento de 31,7% ano a ano.

Canal digital	Receita ($ m)	Taxa de crescimento (%)
Vendas de aplicativos móveis	89.6	27.3
Plataformas de varejo on -line	76.9	36.2
Marketing de mídia social	48.3	22.5

Análise de dados para comportamento do consumidor

A Coca-Cola consolidou US $ 18,7 milhões a tecnologias avançadas de análise de dados em 2023, permitindo a modelagem preditiva de comportamento do consumidor com 84,3% de precisão.

Analytics Technology	Investimento ($ m)	Precisão de previsão (%)
Modelos de aprendizado de máquina	9.2	86.5
Insights preditivos do consumidor	6.5	82.1
Análise de tendências de mercado em tempo real	3.0	81.7

Tecnologias de embalagem e rastreamento inteligentes

A empresa investiu US $ 22,6 milhões em tecnologias de embalagens inteligentes, implementando o rastreamento de código QR em 64% das linhas de produtos, reduzindo as ineficiências da cadeia de suprimentos em 17,5%.

Tecnologia de rastreamento	Investimento ($ m)	Cobertura (%)	Melhoria de eficiência (%)
Rastreamento de código QR	12.3	64	17.5
Gerenciamento de inventário RFID	7.2	42	14.6
Sensores da cadeia de suprimentos da IoT	3.1	29	11.3

Coca -Cola Consolidated, Inc. (Coca -Cola) - Análise de Pestle: Fatores Legais

Conformidade com a produção de bebidas da FDA e regulamentos de rotulagem

Em 2023, a Coca-Cola consolidou US $ 3,2 milhões em custos de conformidade regulatória relacionados aos padrões de produção de bebidas da FDA. A empresa manteve 100% de conformidade com os regulamentos de fabricação de alimentos 21 CFR Part 110.

Métrica de conformidade regulatória	2023 dados
Frequência de inspeção do FDA	4 Inspeções anuais
Taxa de conformidade	99.8%
Rotulando instâncias de violação	2 pequenas correções
Investimento de conformidade	$3,200,000

Proteção à propriedade intelectual

A Coca-Cola consolidou 17 Registros de marca registrada ativa Em 2023, com uma avaliação total da carteira de propriedade intelectual de US $ 42,5 milhões.

Categoria de proteção IP	2023 Estatísticas
Registros de marca registrada	17
Aplicações de patentes	3
Valor do portfólio IP	$42,500,000
Despesas legais de proteção de IP	$1,750,000

Regulamentos de conformidade ambiental e gerenciamento de resíduos

A empresa investiu US $ 5,6 milhões em iniciativas de conformidade ambiental em 2023, alcançando 92% de redução de resíduos e atendendo aos padrões de gerenciamento de resíduos da EPA.

Métrica de conformidade ambiental	2023 dados
Investimento de conformidade ambiental	$5,600,000
Porcentagem de redução de resíduos	92%
Taxa de conformidade da regulamentação da EPA	100%
Iniciativas de sustentabilidade	7 programas principais

Riscos potenciais de litígios

Em 2023, a Coca-Cola Consolidated 3 reivindicações legais relacionadas ao produto, com despesas totais relacionadas a litígios de US $ 1,2 milhão.

Categoria de risco de litígio	2023 Estatísticas
Total de reivindicações legais	3
Despesas de litígio	$1,200,000
Reivindicações liquidadas	2
Reivindicações pendentes	1

Coca -Cola Consolidated, Inc. (Coca -Cola) - Análise de Pestle: Fatores Ambientais

Iniciativas sustentáveis ​​de embalagem e reciclagem

A partir de 2024, a Coca-Cola Consolidated se comprometeu com os seguintes metas de embalagem:

Meta de embalagem	Ano -alvo	Progresso atual
Embalagem reciclável	2025	Embalagem 100% reciclável
Conteúdo reciclado na embalagem	2030	50% de materiais reciclados
Redução de plástico	2024	Redução de 20% no uso de plástico virgem

Conservação de água e eficiência nos processos de produção

Métricas de eficiência da água para instalações de produção consolidadas da Coca-Cola:

Métrica de gerenciamento de água	2024 Performance
Proporção de uso de água	1,39 litros de água por litro de bebida produzida
Água total economizada	3,2 bilhões de litros anualmente
Tratamento de águas residuais	98,6% das águas residuais tratadas e devolvidas ao meio ambiente

Reduzindo a pegada de carbono em fabricação e distribuição

Estratégias de redução de emissões de carbono:

Iniciativa de Gerenciamento de Carbono	2024 Target	Status atual
Escopo 1 & 2 redução de emissões	Redução de 25% até 2030	12,4% de redução alcançada
Eletrificação de frota	30% de veículos elétricos	Veículos de entrega elétrica de 18%
Eficiência energética	Melhoria de 15%	10,2% ganhos de eficiência energética

Adoção de energia renovável em operações corporativas

Detalhes da implementação de energia renovável:

Fonte de energia renovável	Capacidade instalada	Porcentagem de energia total
Energia solar	12,5 MW	7.3%
Energia eólica	8.2 MW	4.6%
Energia renovável total	20,7 MW	11.9%

Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (COKE) - PESTLE Analysis: Social factors

Accelerating consumer shift from full-sugar sodas to zero-sugar, sparkling water, and energy drinks.

You are seeing a fundamental, permanent shift in consumer preference away from high-calorie, full-sugar Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSD) toward healthier alternatives. This is a massive headwind for the traditional core business, but it's also a clear opportunity for Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (COKE) in distribution. The global zero-sugar beverages market is projected to reach a value of $4.35 billion in 2025, and it's forecast to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.7% through 2035.

The good news is that COKE is positioned to capture this growth through The Coca-Cola Company's portfolio. For instance, the global volume of the flagship Coca-Cola Zero Sugar was up 14% in recent quarters (Q3 2025 context), and it holds a dominant market share exceeding 50% in the zero-sugar cola category in key markets.

Here's the quick math: while the US sugar-free drinks market is projected at $12.24 billion in 2025, COKE's job is to ensure the supply chain is ready to deliver these higher-margin products efficiently to offset volume declines in the legacy full-sugar category.

Health and wellness trends pressure the core carbonated soft drink (CSD) category volume.

The intense focus on health and wellness continues to pressure the volume of core CSDs, forcing the entire industry to pivot. Consumers are actively seeking functional benefits (like gut health, immunity, and energy) from their beverages. This is not just about cutting sugar; it's about demanding more from a drink.

The data clearly shows this demand: 58% of consumers are willing to pay more for healthier alternatives, and 32% express interest in functional CSD innovations, like prebiotic sodas.

To be fair, CSD dollar sales are holding up in North America, projected to grow by 2.5% in 2025, but this is mainly driven by strategic pricing and the premiumization of the portfolio, not volume growth. For a bottler like COKE, this means revenue relies less on sheer volume and more on successfully distributing the higher-priced, healthier products, like enhanced water and functional energy drinks, which are estimated to be a $5.26 billion market in North America in 2025.

Demand for smaller, more convenient packaging sizes (e.g., 7.5 oz cans) increases production complexity.

Consumers want portion control and convenience, leading to soaring demand for smaller packaging sizes, which are often sold at a price premium. The Coca-Cola Company is responding by launching individual 7.5-ounce mini cans in North American convenience stores starting January 1, 2026, with a suggested retail price of $1.29 per can.

This shift to a wider variety of smaller Stock Keeping Units (SKUs)-from 7.5 oz cans to 12 oz sleek cans-significantly increases the complexity and changeover time on COKE's bottling and packaging lines. Smaller cans also mean more units per pallet, demanding better load containment and packaging efficiency. COKE proactively addressed this by implementing the MUST Stretch Management System across 64 stretch wrapping lines in 2024 to optimize the handling of over 6 million loads, directly mitigating the complexity cost.

Also, the push for sustainability favors aluminum cans, which are projected to hold a dominant market share of approximately 76.2% by 2025 in the global drink cans segment, further cementing the need for specialized canning operations.

Labor shortages in distribution and warehouse roles push up wage costs in key markets.

The tight labor market in logistics is a major operational risk, directly impacting COKE's Selling, Distribution, and Administrative (SD&A) expenses. Labor costs are already a significant portion of COKE's operating expenses.

The competition for talent is intense, with over 320,000 unique job openings posted in the US warehouse and light industrial sectors between December 2024 and April 2025.

This shortage translates directly into wage inflation:

• The national average hourly pay for a Coca-Cola Warehouse worker is $18.24 as of November 2025.
• In high-cost coastal cities, general warehouse workers average $22-$25 per hour.
• Broad economic forecasts suggest budgeting for 3-4% annual wage growth in the logistics sector.

This pressure means COKE must invest more in retention and automation to maintain its distribution efficiency, especially in high-growth markets like Texas and Florida, where job openings have surged.

Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (COKE) - PESTLE Analysis: Technological factors

Significant investment in supply chain automation to improve efficiency and reduce labor costs.

You can't run a massive bottling and distribution network across 14 states and Washington, D.C., without serious tech investment. For the 2025 fiscal year, Coca-Cola Consolidated expects capital expenditures to be approximately $300 million, with a significant portion dedicated to supply chain optimization and future growth initiatives. This isn't just buying new trucks; it's a deep dive into automation to combat rising labor costs and complexity.

In the first half of 2025 alone, the company invested about $157 million in capital expenditures, a clear sign of their commitment to modernizing their infrastructure. This focus on automation helps move products faster and with fewer errors, which is critical when you're managing over 300 brands and flavors.

Use of predictive analytics to optimize delivery routes, saving on fuel and driver time.

The days of static delivery routes are long gone. Coca-Cola Consolidated uses advanced predictive analytics and real-time visibility platforms to optimize its vast distribution network. This technology monitors traffic, weather, and real-time demand to build the most efficient routes possible, reducing miles driven and, consequently, fuel costs.

This commitment to real-time tracking and data analytics has a direct, measurable impact on service. The company has improved its delivery rate to over 99% by tracking trucks in real time and leveraging this data to streamline operations. Predictive analytics also helps identify operational bottlenecks, like long dwell times at delivery locations, allowing for proactive adjustments.

• Optimize routes based on real-time traffic and demand.
• Reduce fuel consumption and driver time per route.
• Improve on-time delivery rate to over 99%.

E-commerce and direct-to-consumer (DTC) channels require complex, defintely smaller-scale logistics.

The shift in consumer buying behavior, accelerated by the pandemic, means the supply chain must handle two very different logistics models: the traditional high-volume, direct-store delivery (DSD) to large retailers and the newer, smaller-scale logistics for e-commerce and direct-to-consumer (DTC) orders. The latter requires a more granular, flexible, and automated approach to fulfillment, often dealing with individual cases or smaller packs instead of full pallets.

This complexity in managing smaller-scale logistics is a key challenge. It demands more sophisticated warehouse management and order-picking systems to maintain profitability on lower-volume orders. The strategic imperative is to ensure the technology stack can handle both the massive scale of traditional bottling and the high-touch, smaller-parcel requirements of online sales.

Advanced bottling technology increases throughput, supporting an operating margin near 13.1%.

Advanced bottling and warehouse technology directly translates into higher throughput (production volume) and lower cost-to-serve, which is why the company's profitability remains strong. The use of semi-automated warehouse systems, such as the Vertique system, boosts productivity, efficiency, and accuracy in moving finished goods.

Here's the quick math: higher line speeds and fewer errors mean more product gets out the door with less waste and labor. This efficiency is a major contributor to the company's strong financial performance. For the third quarter of 2025, Coca-Cola Consolidated reported an operating margin of 13.1%, a 20 basis point increase over the prior year's quarter, demonstrating the ongoing success of these operational improvements.

Technological Focus Area (2025)	Key Technology/System	Quantifiable Impact/Metric
Supply Chain Optimization & Investment	Capital Expenditures (CapEx)	Expected 2025 CapEx: Approximately $300 million
Delivery & Logistics Efficiency	Predictive Analytics & Real-Time Visibility (e.g., FourKites)	Improved delivery rate to over 99%
Warehouse Automation & Throughput	Vertique System (Semi-Automated Warehousing)	Supports a Q3 2025 Operating Margin of 13.1%
Digital Planning & Data Analytics	AI-Powered Logistics Solutions	Reduces fuel costs and improves delivery accuracy

What this estimate hides is the continuous need for software integration across different systems, but the core action is clear: Finance needs to keep funding the CapEx pipeline to maintain this technological edge.

Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (COKE) - PESTLE Analysis: Legal factors

Strict FDA Labeling Requirements for New Ingredients and Nutritional Information

The regulatory environment for beverage labeling is tightening, and for Coca-Cola Consolidated, this means a constant audit of thousands of SKUs (Stock Keeping Units). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a major update to its General Food Labeling Requirements Compliance Program in June 2025, the first overhaul since 2010. This signals a much stricter inspection regime for domestic and imported foods, including beverages.

The immediate focus is on two key areas: the full compliance with the 2016 Nutrition Facts label revisions, which mandate the clear declaration of Added Sugars, and the incorporation of sesame as the ninth major allergen under the FASTER Act. While the FDA set a uniform compliance date of January 1, 2028, for new labeling regulations published in 2025, you defintely need to move faster. Here's the quick math: a product line shift to low-sugar options, a core strategy for COKE, requires constant label review to avoid costly recalls or fines.

• Audit all labels to declare Sesame as a major allergen.
• Confirm Added Sugars section is fully compliant with 2016 FDA format.
• Ensure new product labels align with the January 1, 2028, uniform compliance date for any new 2025-2026 rules.

Antitrust Scrutiny on Distribution Agreements and Market Dominance in the US Southeast

Coca-Cola Consolidated operates an expansive and dominant distribution network across 14 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. This scale, while a competitive advantage, inherently draws antitrust scrutiny, particularly from federal and state regulators concerned with market dominance and fair competition. The complex web of distribution coordination agreements, such as those with Monster Beverage Corporation, are constantly under review.

Any perceived anti-competitive behavior-like exclusive shelf-space agreements or predatory pricing in local markets-could trigger a major investigation. The risk isn't just fines; it's the potential for mandated changes to the bottling and distribution structure, which would fundamentally disrupt COKE's operating model and its first-half 2025 income from operations of $461.9 million. The key is to maintain a clear separation and documented justification for all territorial and product-specific distribution agreements to demonstrate pro-competitive benefits.

Litigation Risk Tied to Product Liability and Environmental Claims, Particularly Around Water Usage

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) litigation, often called 'greenwashing' claims, is a major near-term financial risk. In late 2024, the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled that The Coca-Cola Company (the franchisor) must face a lawsuit alleging deceptive marketing over its sustainability claims. This ruling makes aspirational statements actionable, meaning COKE, as a key part of the system, is exposed to similar claims regarding its packaging and environmental impact.

The primary litigation flashpoint is packaging. The Coca-Cola system had a goal to make packaging 100% recyclable by 2025, a statement now being used in court to argue consumer deception if the company hasn't made sufficient progress. In May 2025, the global company agreed to change or remove some misleading recycling claims in the EU, a clear signal of the legal pressure. Water usage is another constant liability. While the Coca-Cola system globally returned 163% of the water used in finished beverages to nature in 2024, this aggregate number is scrutinized against local water stress in the 200+ high-risk basins where the company operates.

Legal Risk Area	2025 Status/Trigger	Potential Financial Impact (Qualitative)
Greenwashing Litigation (Packaging)	D.C. Court of Appeals revived lawsuit against franchisor (late 2024) targeting 100% recyclable by 2025 goal.	Significant legal defense costs, brand damage, and mandated marketing/labeling changes.
FDA Labeling Compliance	FDA major compliance program update (June 2025) focusing on Added Sugars and Sesame allergen.	Fines, product recalls, and high costs for retooling packaging and inventory.
Water Usage Claims	Global system returned 163% of water in 2024, but local scrutiny remains high in high-risk basins.	Fines for water use violations, mandatory infrastructure investment, and operational limits in drought-prone areas.

Compliance Costs for State and Local Recycling and Bottle Deposit Schemes are Rising

The legislative trend in the U.S. is shifting the financial burden of packaging waste from municipalities to producers, known as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. This directly impacts Coca-Cola Consolidated's cost of goods sold and capital expenditure. The most immediate threat is the resurgence of bottle deposit schemes (Bottle Bills).

For example, Washington State's House Bill 1607, which was in Rules as of March 2025, proposes a new $0.10 deposit system for beverage containers. This type of legislation requires beverage producers to fund and operate a new collection and recycling infrastructure through a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO). The projected compliance costs for all beverage container producers in Washington State alone could reach 'hundreds of millions' of dollars annually by 2028. This is a clear, rising operational drag on profitability, forcing COKE to either absorb the cost or pass it on to consumers, which creates price elasticity risk.

Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (COKE) - PESTLE Analysis: Environmental factors

Pressure to meet the goal of using recycled content in plastic packaging

The push for circularity in packaging is a direct, measurable cost and operational risk for Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. The Coca-Cola Company system has ambitious, though recently revised, targets that directly impact your procurement and manufacturing processes. The global goal is to use 35% to 40% recycled material in primary packaging by 2035, specifically aiming for 30% to 35% recycled plastic (rPET) content globally.

To put this in perspective, the system's global use of rPET in its PET bottles was only 18% in 2024. The gap between the current rate and the 2035 target is substantial and requires massive investment in new recycling infrastructure and sourcing, which drives up the cost of rPET feedstock. This is not a distant problem; it's a near-term supply chain constraint that affects your gross margin, which was 40.0% in the second quarter of 2025.

• 2024 rPET Use: 18% of PET used was recycled PET (rPET).
• 2035 Global Target: 30% to 35% recycled plastic content.
• Challenge: Securing consistent, food-grade rPET supply in the US.

High water consumption in bottling operations faces increasing scrutiny in drought-prone regions

Water is your primary ingredient, so its scarcity is a critical business risk, especially in the US regions where you operate. The Coca-Cola System's water use ratio-the liters of water used to produce one liter of beverage-was 1.78 liters of water per liter of beverage in 2024. While this represents a 10% efficiency improvement since 2015, the absolute volume of water withdrawn remains a point of scrutiny, particularly in the US Southwest and other drought-prone areas.

The system is committed to returning 100% of the total water used in each of its over 200 high-risk locations globally by 2035. For COKE, this means significant capital expenditure on water treatment and replenishment projects in local watersheds to maintain your social license to operate. Honestly, if a major drought forces production cuts at even one facility, the impact on your $1,855.5 million in Q2 2025 net sales will be immediate and painful.

Scope 3 emissions (from the value chain) are a focus for investor ESG reporting

For a bottler, the vast majority of your carbon footprint is not from your plants (Scope 1 and 2), but from your value chain (Scope 3). This includes the production of your packaging and ingredients, and the refrigeration units you place in stores. For The Coca-Cola Company system, Scope 3 emissions account for over 90% of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint. Over 60% of these indirect emissions are tied to packaging, ingredients, and refrigeration.

Investors are defintely scrutinizing your progress against the system's goal to reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions in line with a 1.5°C trajectory by 2035. The challenge is that COKE must influence hundreds of suppliers-from resin producers to sugar farmers-to meet a target that is primarily their emissions. This is a huge coordination effort that requires both capital and leverage.

GHG Scope	Source of Emissions	System-Wide Significance	2035 Target
Scope 1 & 2	Direct operations (e.g., plants, fleet fuel)	Less than 10% of total footprint	Reduce in line with 1.5°C trajectory (from 2019 baseline)
Scope 3	Value chain (packaging, ingredients, coolers)	Over 90% of total footprint	Reduce in line with 1.5°C trajectory (from 2019 baseline)

Waste management costs increase with stricter landfill and recycling regulations

The regulatory landscape for waste management is shifting dramatically in the US, moving from municipal responsibility to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). EPR laws mandate that producers, like Coca-Cola Consolidated, pay fees to fund the collection and recycling of their packaging. This is a direct, new operating cost that hits your Selling, Delivery, and Administrative (SD&A) expenses, which were 25.4% of net sales in Q2 2025.

The first wave of these US state laws is hitting now: Oregon's EPR law took effect on July 1, 2025. Plus, Colorado and Maine's laws follow in 2026, and California's, which is one of the most ambitious, follows in 2027. California's law alone requires producers to provide $5 billion over ten years to support recycling systems. This patchwork of state regulations means compliance costs and administrative complexity are rising fast.

Here's the quick math: If your fuel costs rise by just 10% in the 2025 fiscal year, that's a multi-million-dollar headwind that must be offset by price or efficiency.

Next Step: Operations: Quantify the cost of compliance for the new Oregon EPR law, including Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) fees, and forecast the 2026 budget impact by the end of the quarter.