The Coca-Cola Company (KO) — ESG & Values Scores

Environment story

Coca-Cola discloses direct-operations sustainability programs (water stewardship, packaging recycling targets) but Scope 3 emissions from packaging, ingredients and cold-drink equipment represent the substantial majority of its carbon footprint and are not shown as declining. Net-zero commitments extend to 2050, and repeated shareholder proposals on plastics and disclosure were opposed by the Board. This is informational research and does not constitute financial advice.

Criticisms on file

Shareholder proposal (Item 5) alleging Coca-Cola's 'World Without Waste' plastics pledges (100% recyclable packaging by 2025, 50% recycled content by 2030) were abandoned as unreachable and replaced with weaker targets.
Source: KO_proxy.txt, Item 5 Shareowner Proposal Requesting a Report Evaluating the Company's Plastics Packaging Policies
Historical criticism regarding localized water extraction near bottling plants raised as an ongoing operational risk factor in water-scarce regions.
Source: KO_10k.txt, Raw Materials section discussing water as a limited natural resource and key business challenge
Board opposition to a shareholder proposal (Item 8) requesting increased sustainability disclosure, indicating resistance to expanded environmental reporting transparency.
Source: KO_proxy.txt, Item 8 Shareowner Proposal Requesting a Report on the Company's Plans to Increase Sustainability Disclosure

Disclosed initiatives

World Without Waste / Packaging Recycled Content Targets

Revised 2024 goal to use 35-40% recycled material in primary packaging, replacing earlier unmet 2025/2030 targets per shareholder proposal (Item 5).

Partial; original targets deemed unreachable by proponent.
Water Stewardship Programs

Company states investment in water stewardship in 'high-risk locations' to protect natural resources supporting operations.

Not independently quantified in filings.

Social story

Coca-Cola's CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio significantly exceeds 200:1 given its globally distributed low-wage workforce base relative to executive compensation. No documented active union-suppression campaigns or major strikes appear in the reviewed filings; labor relations are characterized by the Company as 'generally satisfactory.' Board-level gender diversity exceeds 30%. This is informational research and does not constitute financial advice.

Criticisms on file

Shareholder proposal (Item 6) filed by As You Sow alleging inadequate DEI disclosure relative to peers; Board opposed report, disputing claims and citing existing EEO-1 disclosure.
Source: KO_proxy.txt, Item 6 Shareowner Proposal Requesting a Report on the Extent of the Company's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts
Shareholder proposal (Item 7) filed by CommonSpirit Health and faith-based co-filers requesting a report on health/reputational risks from chemical ingredients; Board recommended against additional disclosure.
Source: KO_proxy.txt, Item 7 Shareowner Proposal Requesting a Report on Risks Related to Ingredients

Disclosed initiatives

Thrive Career Strategy Program

Global career development and internal mobility platform (Thrive Opportunity Marketplace) intended to support skills growth and retention.

Engagement/retention improvements not independently quantified.
Pay Equity Analyses

Company states it conducts regular pay equity analyses as part of compensation program review.

Results not disclosed in reviewed filings.

Governance story

Coca-Cola maintains a single-class share structure and board independence above the 75% threshold (10 of 12 nominees independent). The Company scored 95.7% in the CPA-Zicklin Index for political disclosure transparency. The Board has opposed multiple shareholder proposals seeking increased sustainability and DEI disclosure and a sustainability-committee by-law amendment, which is treated here as a moderate lobbying-posture deduction rather than an active anti-regulatory campaign. No active antitrust, consumer-safety, or financial-fraud proceedings were identified in the reviewed filings. This is informational research and does not constitute financial advice.

Criticisms on file

Board opposed shareholder proposal (Item 4) requesting a by-law amendment to formalize a board-level sustainability committee, citing existing informal oversight as sufficient.
Source: KO_proxy.txt, Item 4 Shareowner Proposal Requesting a Sustainability Committee By-Law Amendment
Board opposed shareholder proposal (Item 8) requesting expanded sustainability disclosure reporting.
Source: KO_proxy.txt, Item 8 Shareowner Proposal Requesting a Report on the Company's Plans to Increase Sustainability Disclosure

Disclosed initiatives

CPA-Zicklin Trendsetter Recognition

Company achieved a 95.7% score in the 2025 CPA-Zicklin Index of Corporate Political Disclosure and Accountability.

Reflects above-90% disclosure/oversight threshold for political engagement transparency.
Clawback Policy & Insider Trading Controls

Global Insider Trading Compliance Policy prohibits hedging, short sales, and pledging by directors/officers; clawback policy applies to incentive compensation.

Strengthens executive accountability controls.

These are Missionomics' own editorial scores — directional signals built from disclosed facts under a published method, not certifications or definitive ratings of The Coca-Cola Company. Coverage and confidence vary by data point, and figures can lag real-world changes. Read the full Methodology for sourcing, scoring, and correction details — or open The Coca-Cola Company in the app for interactive charts and portfolio building.

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