Boston, March 20, 2025 – Coca-Cola, the largest soft drink company in the world, has committed to disclosing its ongoing investments in reusable bottles and the outcomes of these efforts. The company took this action in response to a shareholder proposal from Green Century°, an environmentally responsible mutual fund.
Coca-Cola sells beverages in more than 100 billion plastic bottles a year and is the world’s largest plastic polluter. However, the company recently reneged on its goals to deliver 25% of beverages in reusable containers by 2030 and to cut 3 million metric tons of new plastic by 2025.
“Though Coca-Cola regrettably abandoned its plastic reduction and reuse goals, this new commitment to disclosing reusable packaging investments and results will help investors track the company’s efforts to mitigate plastic-related risks,” said Leslie Samuelrich, president of Green Century Funds. “With plastic pollution doubling every six years and less than 10% of it getting recycled, it’s clear that reuse and reduction are key.”
According to experts, one of the most effective ways to reduce both plastic use and plastic pollution is by replacing single-use plastic containers with reusable ones. Reusable packaging is good for business, too. Studies show that consumers want companies to give them more reusable packaging options.
Reuse Disclosure Necessary to Track Coca-Cola’s Efforts to Reduce Single-Use Plastic
When Coca-Cola dropped its reuse goal in late 2024, the beverage giant stated that it plans to expand its use of reusable packaging in markets where existing infrastructure can support this important part of its portfolio. Coca-Cola reported that 14% of its beverages were sold in reusable containers in both 2022 and 2023, but that the share of Coca-Cola beverages sold in reusable glass bottles increased in 2024.
“We will be monitoring Coca-Cola’s disclosure on how it is investing in reusables and how this translates into more beverages sold in reusable packaging,” said Frances Fairhead-Stanova, shareholder advocate with Green Century. “At the end of the day, investors need these disclosures to ensure Coca-Cola is mitigating the regulatory, reputational and systemic risks posed by its role in the plastic pollution crisis.”
Plastic production is on pace to double by 2050 without meaningful action to reduce it – and companies like Coca-Cola can make an outsized impact. Already, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic end up in our oceans, rivers and lakes every day. Studies show that microplastics are polluting the human body, too, and have been linked to serious health impacts.
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About Green Century Funds
°Green Century Capital Management, Inc. (Green Century) is the investment advisor to the Green Century Funds (The Funds). The Green Century Funds are one of the first families of fossil fuel-free, environmentally responsible mutual funds. Green Century hosts an award-winning and in-house shareholder advocacy program and is the only mutual fund company in the U.S. wholly owned by environmental and public health nonprofit organizations.
*As of December 31, 2024, The Coca-Cola Company comprised 0.00%, 1.01%, and 0.00% of Green Century Balanced Fund, the Green Century Equity Fund, and the Green Century International Index Fund respectively. As of the same date, other securities mentioned were not held in the portfolios of any of the Green Century Funds. References to specific securities, which will change due to ongoing management of the Funds, should not be construed as a recommendation by the Funds, their administrator, or their distributor.
You should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds please visit www.greencentury.com, email info@greencentury.com, or call 1-800-934-7336. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.
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