Sustainability at Scale: How Coca-Cola Consolidated Closes the Loop

Guest: Esther Moberly, Senior Sustainability Manager at Coca-Cola Consolidated

Host: Tim Ridderbos, VP at Shapiro

What happens when the nation’s largest Coca-Cola bottler sets its sights on sustainability?

In this episode of 5 for Five, Shapiro’s Tim Ridderbos sits down with Esther Moberly, who brings over 20 years of recycling and sustainability experience, to talk about how Coca-Cola Consolidated is turning sustainability goals into measurable impact across 14 states.

From improving recycling rates at major sports stadiums to protecting water, the #1 ingredient in every beverage, Esther explains how partnerships, customer expectations, and circular systems are driving meaningful change.

“We like to listen to our customers… they’re all wanting more recycled content and more sustainable products. So we are continuing to answer that.”
— Esther Moberly, Coca-Cola Consolidated

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Time Stamps:

00:16 – Who is Esther Moberly?
00:51 – The role of Coca-Cola Consolidated as a bottler
01:38 – Three pillars of sustainability: package recovery, water conservation, and emissions reductions
02:44 – How partnerships with stadiums boost recycling rates
04:28 – The future of recycling, EPR programs, and customer expectations for circularity

The Three Pillars of Sustainability

1. Package Recovery
From Bank of America Stadium to Rupp Arena, Coca-Cola Consolidated provides bins, signage, and staff education that directly increase recycling rates and keep bottles and cans in circulation.

2. Water Stewardship
As the foundation of every beverage, water conservation is non-negotiable. The company prioritizes protecting and sustaining water resources across its operations.

3. Reducing Emissions
Working with partners and customers across 14 states, Coca-Cola Consolidated is cutting carbon emissions and making sustainability an integral part of logistics and operations.

The Future of Recycling and Circularity

With $1.6 billion in aluminum cans lost to landfills every year, the stakes are high. Esther predicts customer demand for recycled content and state-level EPR programs will accelerate true closed-loop systems.

Want to Learn More?

Coca-Cola Consolidated is showing how corporate sustainability can scale through real-world partnerships and practical action.

Connect with Esther Moberly

Connect with Tim or Shapiro about the 5 for Five Podcast or sustainability initiatives for manufacturing:

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