Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (COKE): Análisis PESTLE [Actualizado en Ene-2025]

Sumérgete en el intrincado mundo de Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (Coca-Cola), donde la dinámica del mercado compleja se cruzan con desafíos estratégicos en paisajes políticos, económicos, sociales, tecnológicos, legales y ambientales. Este análisis integral de mortero presenta las presiones y oportunidades multifacéticas que dan forma a una de las compañías de bebidas más emblemáticas de Estados Unidos, revelando cómo las tendencias globales, los entornos regulatorios y las expectativas del consumidor transforman continuamente su estrategia comercial. Desde navegar las preferencias cambiantes del consumidor hasta la gestión de innovaciones tecnológicas y desafíos de sostenibilidad, el viaje de Coca -Cola representa un microcosmos fascinantes de resistencia y adaptación corporativa moderna en la industria de bebidas competitivas.

Coca -Cola Consolidated, Inc. (Coca -Cola) - Análisis de mortero: factores políticos

Regulaciones de la industria de bebidas estadounidenses Distribución de impacto y estrategias de marketing

La Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos (FDA) aplica requisitos de etiquetado estrictos para bebidas. A partir de 2023, las compañías de bebidas deben cumplir con las actualizaciones del panel de datos nutricionales que entraron en vigencia en enero de 2020.

Área de cumplimiento regulatorio	Requisitos específicos
Etiquetado nutricional	Requisitos de tamaño de porción de servicio actualizado, divulgación de azúcar añadida obligatoria
Transparencia de ingredientes	Lista completa de ingredientes con cantidades precisas

Políticas comerciales potenciales que afectan el abastecimiento de ingredientes globales

A partir de 2024, los aranceles estadounidenses sobre los ingredientes importados siguen siendo significativos:

• Las tarifas de importación de azúcar oscilan entre 22.5 y 35.74 centavos por kilogramo
• El aluminio puede importar aranceles aproximadamente el 10% de ciertos países
• Posibles aranceles adicionales sobre materiales de embalaje de proveedores internacionales

Impuestos locales y estatales sobre bebidas azucaradas

Estado	Tasa impositiva de bebidas azucaradas
California	Sin impuestos estatales
Filadelfia	1.5 centavos por onza
Seattle	1.75 centavos por onza

Presión gubernamental para opciones de bebidas más saludables

Métricas regulatorias clave:

• Los CDC informan el 42.4% de los adultos estadounidenses clasificados como obesos en 2021
• La FDA recomienda la ingesta diaria de azúcar agregada por debajo del 10% del total de calorías
• Aumento de los mandatos para la transparencia nutricional en el marketing de bebidas

Los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) continúan rastreando los patrones de consumo de bebidas, con recomendaciones continuas para una ingesta reducida de azúcar.

Coca -Cola Consolidated, Inc. (Coca -Cola) - Análisis de mortero: factores económicos

Fluctuando los costos de las materias primas que afectan los gastos de producción

En 2023, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. experimentó variaciones significativas de costo de materia prima:

Materia prima	Aumento de precios (%)	Impacto en el costo de producción
Azúcar	12.4%	$ 0.037 por unidad
Latas de aluminio	8.7%	$ 0.052 por lata
Botellas de plástico	6.3%	$ 0.024 por botella

Patrones de gasto del consumidor en los mercados de bebidas

Datos de gasto del mercado de bebidas al consumidor para 2023:

Categoría de bebida	Tamaño del mercado ($)	Crecimiento año tras año (%)
Bebidas no alcohólicas	$ 465.2 mil millones	3.7%
Refrescos carbonatados	$ 192.6 mil millones	1.9%
Bebidas energéticas	$ 86.4 mil millones	5.3%

Efectos potenciales de recesión económica

Consumo de bebidas durante la posible recesión económica:

• Tasa de negociación del consumidor proyectada: 14.6%
• Reducción del volumen esperado: 3.2%
• Aumento de la sensibilidad al precio anticipado: 22.7%

Volatilidad del tipo de cambio de divisas

Impacto del tipo de cambio de moneda internacional en 2023:

Pareja	Volatilidad del tipo de cambio (%)	Impacto de ingresos ($)
USD/EUR	6.3%	$ 14.2 millones
USD/GBP	5.7%	$ 9.6 millones
USD/CAD	4.9%	$ 7.3 millones

Coca -Cola Consolidated, Inc. (Coca -Cola) - Análisis de mortero: factores sociales

Cambiando las preferencias del consumidor hacia las opciones de bebidas más saludables y de baja azucar

Según Statista, el mercado global de bebidas de bajo azúcar se valoró en $ 30.2 mil millones en 2022 y se proyecta que alcanzará los $ 46.7 mil millones para 2027. Coca-Cola Consolidated ha respondido con el 38% de su cartera que ahora es de baja azúcar o cero azúcar o cero azucarado de azúcar .

Categoría de bebida	Cuota de mercado	Índice de crecimiento
Bebidas bajas en azúcar	38%	7.2% anual
Bebidas de azúcar cero	22%	9.5% anual

Creciente demanda de líneas de productos sostenibles y ambientalmente responsables

En 2023, Coca-Cola Consolidated informó haber invertido $ 52.3 millones en iniciativas de envasado sostenible. El 67% de su empaque ahora es reciclable, con el objetivo de alcanzar el 100% para 2030.

Métrica de sostenibilidad	Estado actual	Año objetivo
Embalaje reciclable	67%	2030
Inversión en sostenibilidad	$ 52.3 millones	2023

Cambio de patrones de consumo demográfico en diferentes grupos de edad

Los datos de Nielsen muestran que los consumidores de Gen Z y Millennial representan el 48% del mercado de bebidas actual de Coca-Cola Consolidated, con preferencia por las bebidas funcionales y orientadas a la salud.

Grupo de edad	Representación de mercado	Tipo de bebida preferida
Gen Z	24%	Bebidas funcionales
Millennials	24%	Bebidas orientadas a la salud

Aumento de la conciencia de la salud que afecta las estrategias de desarrollo de productos

En 2023, Coca-Cola Consolidated lanzó 12 nuevas líneas de bebidas centradas en la salud, que representa una inversión de $ 78.6 millones en innovación de productos dirigida a consumidores conscientes de la salud.

Innovación de productos	Número de nuevas líneas	Inversión
Bebidas centradas en la salud	12	$ 78.6 millones

Coca -Cola Consolidated, Inc. (Coca -Cola) - Análisis de mortero: factores tecnológicos

Tecnologías de automatización de fabricación y embotellado avanzados

En 2023, Coca-Cola Consolidated invirtió $ 42.3 millones en tecnologías de automatización de fabricación. La compañía desplegó 37 nuevas líneas de embotellado robótico en sus instalaciones de producción, aumentando la eficiencia de producción en un 22,6%.

Tipo de tecnología	Inversión ($ m)	Mejora de la eficiencia (%)
Sistemas de embotellado robótico	24.7	18.3
Líneas de embalaje automatizadas	12.5	15.9
Sistemas de control de calidad de IA	5.1	8.4

Plataformas de marketing digital y comercio electrónico

La compañía reportó $ 67.2 millones en gastos de marketing digital en 2023, con ventas de comercio electrónico que alcanzaron $ 214.5 millones, lo que representa un crecimiento anual de 31.7%.

Canal digital	Ingresos ($ M)	Tasa de crecimiento (%)
Ventas de aplicaciones móviles	89.6	27.3
Plataformas minoristas en línea	76.9	36.2
Marketing en redes sociales	48.3	22.5

Análisis de datos para el comportamiento del consumidor

Coca-Cola Consolidated asignó $ 18.7 millones a tecnologías avanzadas de análisis de datos en 2023, lo que permite el modelado predictivo de comportamiento del consumidor con una precisión del 84.3%.

Tecnología de análisis	Inversión ($ m)	Precisión de predicción (%)
Modelos de aprendizaje automático	9.2	86.5
Ideas predictivas del consumidor	6.5	82.1
Análisis de tendencias del mercado en tiempo real	3.0	81.7

Tecnologías de empaque y seguimiento inteligentes

La compañía invirtió $ 22.6 millones en tecnologías de envasado inteligente, implementando el seguimiento del código QR en el 64% de las líneas de productos, reduciendo las ineficiencias de la cadena de suministro en un 17.5%.

Tecnología de seguimiento	Inversión ($ m)	Cobertura (%)	Mejora de la eficiencia (%)
Seguimiento de código QR	12.3	64	17.5
Gestión de inventario de RFID	7.2	42	14.6
Sensores de la cadena de suministro de IoT	3.1	29	11.3

Coca -Cola Consolidated, Inc. (Coca -Cola) - Análisis de mortero: factores legales

Cumplimiento de las regulaciones de producción y etiquetado de la FDA

En 2023, Coca-Cola Consolidated incurrió en $ 3.2 millones en costos de cumplimiento regulatorio relacionados con los estándares de producción de bebidas de la FDA. La Compañía mantuvo el 100% de cumplimiento con 21 CFR Parte 110 Regulaciones de fabricación de alimentos.

Métrico de cumplimiento regulatorio	2023 datos
Frecuencia de inspección de la FDA	4 inspecciones anuales
Tasa de cumplimiento	99.8%
Instancias de violación de etiquetado	2 correcciones menores
Inversión de cumplimiento	$3,200,000

Protección de propiedad intelectual

Coca-Cola Consolidated Hold 17 Registros de marca registrada activa En 2023, con una valoración total de la cartera de propiedades intelectuales de $ 42.5 millones.

Categoría de protección de IP	2023 estadísticas
Registros de marca registrada	17
Solicitudes de patentes	3
Valor de la cartera de IP	$42,500,000
Gastos legales de protección de IP	$1,750,000

Regulaciones de cumplimiento ambiental y gestión de residuos

La compañía invirtió $ 5.6 millones en iniciativas de cumplimiento ambiental en 2023, logrando el 92% de reducción de residuos y cumpliendo con los estándares de gestión de residuos de la EPA.

Métrica de cumplimiento ambiental	2023 datos
Inversión de cumplimiento ambiental	$5,600,000
Porcentaje de reducción de residuos	92%
Tasa de cumplimiento de la regulación de la EPA	100%
Iniciativas de sostenibilidad	7 programas principales

Posibles riesgos de litigios

En 2023, Coca-Cola Consolidated Faced 3 reclamos legales relacionados con el producto, con gastos totales relacionados con los litigios de $ 1.2 millones.

Categoría de riesgo de litigio	2023 estadísticas
Reclamaciones legales totales	3
Gastos de litigio	$1,200,000
Reclamos establecidos	2
Reclamos pendientes	1

Coca -Cola Consolidated, Inc. (Coca -Cola) - Análisis de mortero: factores ambientales

Iniciativas de embalaje y reciclaje sostenibles

A partir de 2024, Coca-Cola Consolidated se ha comprometido con los siguientes objetivos de envasado:

Meta de embalaje	Año objetivo	Progreso actual
Embalaje reciclable	2025	Embalaje 100% reciclable
Contenido reciclado en el embalaje	2030	50% de materiales reciclados
Reducción de plástico	2024	Reducción del 20% en el uso de plástico virgen

Conservación y eficiencia del agua en los procesos de producción

Métricas de eficiencia del agua para instalaciones de producción consolidadas de Coca-Cola:

Métrica de gestión del agua	2024 rendimiento
Relación de uso de agua	1.39 litros de agua por litro de bebida producida
Agua total guardada	3.2 mil millones de litros anuales
Tratamiento de aguas residuales	98.6% de las aguas residuales tratadas y devueltas al medio ambiente

Reducción de la huella de carbono en la fabricación y distribución

Estrategias de reducción de emisiones de carbono:

Iniciativa de gestión de carbono	Objetivo 2024	Estado actual
Alcance 1 & 2 reducción de emisiones	Reducción del 25% para 2030	Reducción de 12.4% lograda
Electrificación de la flota	30% de vehículos eléctricos	18% de vehículos de entrega eléctrica
Eficiencia energética	15% de mejora	10.2% de ganancias de eficiencia energética

Adopción de energía renovable en operaciones corporativas

Detalles de implementación de energía renovable:

Fuente de energía renovable	Capacidad instalada	Porcentaje de energía total
Energía solar	12.5 MW	7.3%
Energía eólica	8.2 MW	4.6%
Energía renovable 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.