(Sustainability Spotlight) From data to action

Advancing sustainability at Coke Northeast

Kyle King

At Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast (Coke Northeast), sustainability means creating shared value by operating responsibly today while building a resilient tomorrow. It is integrated into how we operate our manufacturing facilities, distribute products, manage resources and support the communities we serve across New England and Upstate New York.

As a locally operated Coca-Cola bottler, we recognize that long-term business success depends on responsible stewardship of natural resources and a commitment to continual improvement.

We organize our sustainability initiatives into three strategic pillars: climate, water and packaging, which collectively guide our efforts to mitigate climate-related risks through emissions reduction, water stewardship and responsible waste management. These efforts help drive operational excellence while supporting broader environmental goals.

Under the climate pillar, we focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy procurement, transportation optimization and sustainable building design. In addition to improving route logistics and optimizing our existing fleet, Coke Northeast has purchased its first two electric, Class-8 tractors, expected to be delivered in October.

These vehicles will help demonstrate the viability of heavy-duty fleet electrification within our operations and support future decarbonization efforts. We are also installing our first rooftop solar array at our Westborough Sales Center, supporting our goal to procure 100% of our electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030.

As a Coca-Cola bottler, water is our primary ingredient. As such, we continuously work to use water responsibly, improve process efficiency and maintain high standards for water quality.

Our Londonderry facility recently installed our first adiabatic cooling tower, which was specifically selected to reduce water and energy consumption compared to a traditional cooling tower. By investing in innovative technologies, Coke Northeast is strengthening its stewardship of this valuable resource.

Packaging and waste represent a critical component of our sustainability strategy. We recognize the important role packaging plays in delivering safe, high-quality beverages while also understanding the challenges associated with material use and waste.

As consumer expectations and regulations evolve, Coke Northeast continues to advance packaging innovation. In 2026, we increased recycled plastic content across all of our package sizes. We also continue working closely with packaging suppliers to pilot innovative materials and packaging solutions that help reduce environmental impact.

Measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions remains a key focus area. At Coke Northeast, we track emissions across our operations and value chain through Greenly, a GHG accounting platform. Accurate emissions data helps us identify reduction opportunities and areas for improvement. Using a weighted decision matrix, we then prioritize initiatives and focus resources on projects that deliver the greatest environmental and business impact.

Perhaps most importantly, sustainability is made possible by people. From front-line operators and maintenance technicians to drivers, sales teams, office employees and consumers, progress is achieved through everyday decisions and continuous improvement.

That is why we are standardizing waste stream signage and collection practices across our organization, helping employees consistently dispose of materials correctly and supporting greater diversion from landfills.

While the sustainability landscape continues to evolve, our commitment remains constant: improving efficiency, managing resources responsibly and creating value for our customers, communities and stakeholders. By integrating sustainability into our business strategy, Coke Northeast is building a more resilient future while continuing to refresh the communities we proudly serve.

Kyle King is the operations sustainability manager for Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, where he helps drive the company’s sustainability strategy and long-term environmental goals. New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility produces “Sustainability Spotlight” monthly for NH Business Review.