Kiera Jefferson
Coca-Cola has been accused of dehydrating communities and polluting water with harmful chemicals like cadmium and lead. In 2021, the company withdrew 298 million cubic meters of water, with 46% of its water withdrawals coming from groundwater. Coca-Cola has set environmental goals to reduce, reuse, recycle, and replenish water in its manufacturing facilities, and it aims to return more than 100% of the water used in its finished products to nature and communities. The company also works with the WWF to prevent plastic waste pollution and improve freshwater conditions. Coca-Cola's efforts to address wastewater pollution and water usage are influenced by community impact, regulatory requirements, and partnerships.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Coca-Cola's water withdrawal in 2021 | 298 million cubic meters |
| Percentage of groundwater in Coca-Cola's water withdrawals in 2021 | 46% |
| Percentage of third-party water in Coca-Cola's water withdrawals in 2021 | 48% |
| Coca-Cola's water usage in 2021 | 170 million cubic meters |
| Amount of water used per liter of product produced by Coca-Cola in 2021 | 1.81 liters |
| Percentage of water returned to nature and communities by Coca-Cola in 2021 | 167% |
| Coca-Cola's goal for returning water to nature and communities | At least 100% |
| Coca-Cola's goal for reducing, reusing, recycling, and replenishing water in manufacturing facilities with high priority by | 2030 |
| Coca-Cola's goal for using recycled material in primary packaging | 35% to 40% |
| Coca-Cola's goal for increasing recycled plastic use globally by 2035 | 30% to 35% |
| Coca-Cola's goal for collecting the equivalent number of bottles and cans introduced into the market annually by 2035 | 70% to 75% |
| Coca-Cola's goal for reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 2035 | In line with a 1.5°C trajectory |
| Coca-Cola's bottling plants in India | 58 |
| Contaminants found in Coca-Cola's Uttar Pradesh factory sludge in 2003 | Cadmium, lead, and chromium |
| Pesticides found in Coca-Cola's beverages by the Centre for Science and Environment in 2003 | DDT and others |
| Coca-Cola's partnership with WWF | Aim to prevent 10 million metric tons of plastic waste pollution |
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What You'll Learn
Coca-Cola's wastewater and pollution in India
Coca-Cola is one of the largest soft-drink makers in the world, producing, distributing, and marketing non-alcoholic beverages. The company has been accused of groundwater depletion and pollution in India, particularly in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
In 2003, the Central Pollution Control Board of India found that sludge from Coca-Cola's Uttar Pradesh factory was contaminated with high levels of cadmium, lead, and chromium. The company was also accused of offloading this sludge as "free fertilizer" to local farmers, while not providing clean water to residents whose underground water supplies were allegedly being depleted.
Coca-Cola's 58 bottling plants in India have been at the center of protests for years, with demonstrators accusing the company of creating water shortages and polluting groundwater and soil. In 2014, Indian government officials ordered the closure of the Mehdiganj plant in Uttar Pradesh due to excessive groundwater pumping. Coca-Cola has disputed these claims, attributing the allegations to politically motivated groups and a lack of rainfall.
The impact of Coca-Cola's operations on groundwater depletion in India is a complex issue. The company has been accused of "creating thirst" and contributing to the loss of livelihood and hunger for thousands of people in the country. However, Coca-Cola has also implemented water replacement programs and taken steps towards sustainable environmental goals, including a focus on water security in high-risk locations and reducing packaging waste and emissions.
In terms of measuring wastewater levels, Coca-Cola has set goals to replenish the water used in its finished products and return it to nature and communities. The company aims to maintain at least 100% global replenishment and has met or exceeded this goal since 2015. Coca-Cola also intends to reduce, reuse, recycle, and replenish water use in manufacturing facilities with high priorities by 2030.
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Coca-Cola's 2035 environmental goals
Coca-Cola has been working on its environmental goals for over a decade. In 2021, the company withdrew 298 million cubic meters of water, a 6% increase from 2020. The company has been accused of groundwater depletion and pollution in India, with high levels of cadmium, lead, and chromium found in sludge from its Uttar Pradesh factory. Coca-Cola has disputed these claims.
In light of these challenges, Coca-Cola has set new 2035 environmental goals that focus on water, packaging, and emissions. The company aims to return more than 100% of the water used in finished products globally to nature and communities, a goal it has met or exceeded since 2015. Coca-Cola also seeks to return 100% of the total water used in each of its more than 200 high-risk locations. These targets are informed by decades of work in sustainability and periodic assessments of progress and challenges.
Coca-Cola's 2035 packaging goals include increasing the recycled material content in its primary packaging to between 35% and 40% and achieving a collection rate of 70% to 75% for the bottles and cans it releases into the market each year. The company is also focusing on ensuring that its primary packaging is recyclable, with almost all (more than 95%) of its current primary consumer packaging designed to be recycled.
Coca-Cola's 2035 vision centres on circularity, aiming to secure water in high-risk areas, reduce packaging waste, and cut Scope 3 emissions. The company has also set a goal to reach net zero by 2050, with Coca-Cola Europe targeting 2040 for this achievement. While Coca-Cola has not set new agriculture-specific objectives, it remains committed to sustainable sourcing.
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Coca-Cola's impact on water resources
In defence, Coca-Cola claims to adhere to the "highest ethical standards" and has set voluntary environmental goals to improve water security in high-risk locations. They aim to reduce, reuse, recycle, and replenish water in their manufacturing facilities and have committed to returning more water to nature and communities than they use. However, critics argue that these efforts may not be enough to offset the environmental impact of their operations, particularly in water-stressed regions.
One of the most prominent cases of Coca-Cola's impact on water resources is in India, where the company operates 58 water-intensive bottling plants. In the village of Plachimada, Kerala, persistent droughts have dried up groundwater and local wells, leading to protests and the revocation of Coca-Cola's license to operate. Similarly, in the village of Kaladera, Rajasthan, locals have testified that Coca-Cola's arrival led to a serious decline in water levels, threatening farmers' livelihoods. Official documents from the government's water ministry support these claims, showing a significant drop in water levels after the Coca-Cola plant became operational in 2000.
In addition to water depletion, Coca-Cola has also been accused of water pollution in India. The Central Pollution Control Board of India found high levels of cadmium, lead, and chromium in sludge from their Uttar Pradesh factory in 2003. The company was also criticised for offloading cadmium-laden waste sludge as "free fertilizer" to local farmers. Independent tests by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found high levels of pesticides in Coca-Cola beverages, prompting Indian MPs to uphold these findings and ban Coca-Cola from parliamentary cafeterias.
To address these issues, Coca-Cola has partnered with organisations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to create a more climate-resilient and water-secure future. Through initiatives like ReSource and the Plastic Waste Zero campaign, they aim to reduce plastic waste pollution and improve freshwater conditions. The company is also focusing on using more recycled materials in its packaging and supporting collection rates. However, with increasing scrutiny on water withdrawal and tight regulations, Coca-Cola and other companies will need to implement effective strategies to mitigate their impact on water resources.
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Coca-Cola's plastic waste pollution
Coca-Cola has been facing scrutiny for its plastic waste pollution. The company has been named the worst plastic polluter in the world for six consecutive years, with Coca-Cola plastic bottles, caps, and wrappers being the most commonly found branded plastic pollution. The company sells over 100 billion single-use plastic bottles annually, with a projected plastic use of 9.1 billion pounds per year by 2030 if practices remain unchanged. This would result in a 20% increase in plastic use compared to 2023, contributing to environmental degradation and climate change.
Coca-Cola has been criticized for its reliance on plastic recycling, which is often considered greenwashing and ineffective in mitigating plastic pollution. The company has faced backlash for quietly dropping reuse targets and decreasing its plastic recycling goals, moving away from its previous commitment to make 25% of its packaging reusable by 2030. Instead, Coca-Cola has shifted its focus to increasing the use of recycled content, aiming for 30-35% recycled plastic in bottles by 2035. However, critics argue that collecting plastic for recycling and using single-use packaging with recycled content will not reduce the overall plastic footprint.
The company has responded to these concerns by announcing initiatives to address plastic waste. Coca-Cola has invested in recycling infrastructure and set a goal to recycle and collect the equivalent of every bottle it sells by 2030. They have also introduced attached bottle caps to reduce cap litter and are working to increase the recyclability of their primary packaging, with over 95% designed to be recycled. Additionally, Coca-Cola aims to maintain at least 100% global replenishment of the water used in its finished beverages, with a focus on high-risk locations.
Despite these efforts, Coca-Cola's plastic waste pollution remains a significant concern. Environmental groups and consumers have criticized the company's continued reliance on single-use plastics and connections to fossil fuels. Plastic waste directly impacts communities and health, as microplastics enter the food chain and drinking water. Coca-Cola's plastic problem has led to consumer boycotts and calls for the company to transition to reusable packaging to reduce its environmental impact.
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Coca-Cola's water withdrawal in 2021
Coca-Cola is a producer, distributor, and marketer of non-alcoholic beverages. It markets beverages under the brand names Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, Diet Coke, Fanta, Powerade, Dasani, FUZE TEA, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia, and Del Valle.
In 2021, Coca-Cola withdrew 298 million cubic meters (298 million m3) of water, an increase of 6% over 2020. This was obtained mainly from groundwater and third parties, with groundwater providing 46% of Coca-Cola's water withdrawals and third parties providing 48% in 2021. During the same year, the water usage by Coca-Cola was 170 million m3, an increase of 2% over 2020. 1.81 liters of water were used per liter of product produced by Coca-Cola during the same year. 167% of the water used by Coca-Cola is returned to nature and communities in 2021. The beverage company aims to maintain at least 100% global replenishment of the water used in its finished beverages.
Food and beverage companies face disputes with local communities over the amount of groundwater that can be withdrawn without depleting local resources. Coca-Cola has been accused of groundwater depletion and pollution in India. The Central Pollution Control Board of India found in 2003 that sludge from Coca-Cola's Uttar Pradesh factory was contaminated with high levels of cadmium, lead, and chromium. Coca-Cola was also offloading cadmium-laden waste sludge as "free fertilizer" to tribal farmers near the plant. Another Indian nonprofit group, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), tested 57 carbonated beverages made by Coca-Cola and Pepsi at 25 bottling plants and found a mix of three to five different pesticides in all samples. In the southern Indian village of Plachimada in Kerala state, persistent droughts have dried up groundwater and local wells, forcing many residents to rely on water supplies trucked in daily by the government. Some locals link the lack of groundwater to the arrival of a Coca-Cola bottling plant in the area. Following several large protests, the local government revoked Coca-Cola’s license to operate and ordered the company to shut down its $25-million plant.
Coca-Cola has set voluntary environmental goals to address these issues. The company aims to reduce, reuse, recycle, and replenish water use in its manufacturing facilities with high priority by 2030. Coca-Cola also intends to focus on improving water security in high-risk locations, reducing packaging waste, and decreasing emissions. By 2035, the company aims to return more than 100% of the water used in finished products globally to nature and communities.
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Frequently asked questions
Coca-Cola has set a target to reduce its Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in line with a 1.5°C trajectory by 2035. The company has also partnered with the WWF to create a more climate-resilient and water-secure future. Together with other ReSource Principal Members, they have developed the Transparent 2020 baseline report, which measures and examines the plastic footprints of leading global companies. Coca-Cola has also been working to reduce packaging waste and decrease emissions by using more recycled materials in primary packaging and supporting collection rates.
Coca-Cola has been accused of dehydrating communities in its pursuit of water resources to feed its plants, drying up farmers' wells and destroying local agriculture. In 2003, the Central Pollution Control Board of India found that sludge from Coca-Cola's Uttar Pradesh factory was contaminated with high levels of cadmium, lead, and chromium. Coca-Cola has also been accused of exacerbating water shortages in regions that already suffer from a lack of water resources and rainfall, particularly in India.
Coca-Cola claims to adhere to the "highest ethical standards" and to be "an outstanding corporate citizen in every community [they] serve". The company has set voluntary environmental goals, including a focus on improving water security in high-risk locations. They have also committed to building long-term business resilience and earning their social license to operate through these goals. Coca-Cola also attributes some of the allegations to politically motivated groups.
