How Coca-Cola Consolidated is driving sustainability in Charlotte

Coca-Cola Consolidated, the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the U.S., is helping make recycling and sustainability efforts more effective in its headquartered city, Charlotte.

Why it's important: Recycling plays a crucial role in reducing waste, conserving resources and fostering healthier communities.

♻️What you need to know: Through its Refresh. Recycle. Renew. initiative, Coca-Cola Consolidated is building a more sustainable future by working with climate-conscious companies to help support circular economies.

• Across its 14-state territory, the company is investing in closed-loop recycling solutions and expanding access to recycling infrastructure in collaboration with universities, sporting and event venues, businesses and communities.
• These efforts are already paying off. In 2024, Coca-Cola Consolidated collected more than 974 million plastic bottles through its partnership with Circular Solutions Advisors.

The local impact: In Charlotte, the company has teamed up with some of the city's biggest venues to make it easier for residents and visitors to recycle.

• 🏀 At the Spectrum Center, home of the Charlotte Hornets, Coca-Cola Consolidated has helped improve recycling infrastructure, ensuring that more bottles stay in circulation and out of waste streams​.
• 🏈 At Bank of America Stadium, Coca-Cola Consolidated worked with Tepper Sports & Entertainment to install 84 new recycling bins in key hospitality areas. With a goal making it easier for fans to recycle bottles and cans instead of tossing them into the landfill​.
• 🏁At Charlotte Motor Speedway, Coca-Cola Consolidated has long partnered with the track to improve and expand its recycling programs, especially during the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 race. The company has also provided 400 recycling and trash containers, along with messaging and labeling of waste dumpsters. This year,.spectators will see bins in the fan zone, encouraging recycling while enjoying the race.

An expert's take: "As the nation's largest Coca-Cola bottler and the official beverage provider for Charlotte FC and the Carolina Panthers, we are thrilled to expand eco-friendly practices at Bank of America Stadium," says Esther Moberly, Sustainability Senior Manager for Coca-Cola Consolidated. "Together, we're taking important steps to increase recycling capture and ensure that sustainability becomes a seamless part of the fan experience."

🌳Plus, plus, plus: In 2024, 40 Coca-Cola Consolidated volunteers teamed up with TreesCharlotte to plant 28 trees in Sheffield Park in Charlotte, North Carolina.

• In 2025, Coca-Cola Consolidated is continuing its partnership with TreesCharlotte by sponsoring and participating in a tree planting event of more than 130 trees, in Huntersville, North Carolina.

Here's why: Planting trees has multiple benefits for the surrounding area…

• Reduce carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen.
• Provide shade for humans and homes for animals.
• Improve water quality.

Worth a mention: Coca-Cola Consolidated is also helping to lead the way in sustainable packaging innovation.

The company made three big changes to its bottle design to improve sustainability by reducing plastic waste and carbon emissions:

• All 20 oz bottles are now 100% recycled plastic (rPET).
• A new Harmony design that uses less plastic per bottle.
• A lightweight Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) material to reduce plastic in its 20 oz, 500 ML and 12 oz products.

The proof: Coca-Cola Consolidated's shift from its iconic green plastic Sprite bottles to a clear design in 2022 has also made it simpler to recycle these bottles into new ones.

Here's what else: The company is finding innovative ways to reduce its environmental impact, including implementing water efficiency measures at 100% of its manufacturing facilities and donating and converting 55-gallon syrup drums into rain barrels.

Looking ahead: Coca-Cola Consolidated is committed to protecting and preserving what matters most — reducing emissions, conserving water and ensuring that every bottle and can is designed to be remade

Learn more.