Coca-Cola is undergoing a major global restructure that is affecting personnel in sustainability roles across multiple regions, including Asia Pacific, Eco-Business understands.
The consumer goods giant began a restructuring process in January that reportedly impacted staff at its Atlanta headquarters. The latest wave of changes is now affecting corporate functions globally, including sustainability, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The restructure is largely confined to The Coca-Cola Company and not its bottling partners, meaning sustainability targets and programmes driven by bottlers are unlikely to be significantly affected.
While the full extent of the overhaul remains unclear, sustainability teams in the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific markets are understood to have been heavily impacted.
Among the key roles affected is the global vice president of sustainability and digital transformation, who is expected to transition into another position within the company.
Coca-Cola has not publicly disclosed the reason for the restructure, but sources say company-wide overhauls are cyclical and typically occur every three to five years to modernise operations.
The company’s last major restructure in 2020 saw 22,000 jobs cut globally as the beverage maker responded to the pandemic and shifting consumer behaviour.
Eco-Business has approached Coca-Cola for comment on the latest changes.
Some of the affected staff have posted on LinkedIn that they are now seeking new roles.
Coca-Cola, the world’s largest beverage company and one of the most scrutinised brands for plastic pollution, has been working to improve its environmental credentials in recent years through recycled content targets, packaging redesigns and investments in collection and recovery systems.
In 2024, Coca-Cola significantly scaled back its 2030 sustainability targets, delaying or reducing goals for recycled packaging and bottle collection, citing operational challenges. Updated targets include 35-40 per cent recycled material by 2035 – previously 50 per cent by 2030 – and a 70-75 per cent collection rate.
