The OpenSecrets profile for Coca-Cola Co reveals that in the 2024 cycle, the company (which owns the Sprite brand) contributed approximately $1,367,724 to political campaigns and spent nearly $4,930,000 on lobbying. Additionally, the profile highlights a significant revolving door phenomenon, with a large proportion of the company's lobbyists having previously held government positions, raising concerns about corporate influence and regulatory capture.

Workers at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners’ Wakefield facility are being balloted for strike action in response to a 6% pay rise offer that union members consider inadequate given inflation, with potential disruptions to soft drinks supplies in Britain. Although the article covers issues at a Coca-Cola production site, as Sprite is part of the Coca-Cola portfolio, these labor relations concerns are relevant to the brand’s broader operational context.

Workers at a Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plant, which produces Sprite among other beverages, are set to vote on industrial action over disputed pay rises amid soaring profits, raising concerns over worker rights and potential supply disruptions.

A report reveals that Coca-Cola, owner of Sprite, continues to source sugar from suppliers in China’s Xinjiang province that allegedly use forced labor. The report also details the company’s lobbying efforts against the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, highlighting a disconnect between its public 'woke' stance and underlying business practices.

Coca-Cola Co, the parent company behind Sprite, spent $5.62 million on lobbying activities in 2021. This expenditure reflects significant efforts to influence federal policy, raising concerns over corporate political influence and democratic accountability.

The Coca‑Cola Company’s public policy page outlines its approach to political engagement, emphasizing transparency in lobbying activities and clear guidelines for political contributions. The company discloses its lobbying expenditures, refrains from using corporate funds for direct political contributions, and adheres to established ethical standards through oversight by senior executives and board committees.

The Coca‑Cola Company released its U.S. Political Engagement Policy outlining strict criteria for evaluating political contributions and lobbying efforts. The policy emphasizes nonpartisanship by prohibiting federal use of corporate funds for partisan activities, enforces transparent practices, and evaluates candidates based on alignment with values such as workforce equality, environmental sustainability, and overall business priorities.

At Coca-Cola’s 11th Business and Human Rights Conference held on September 12 at its Atlanta headquarters, a group of around fifty trade unionists confronted attendees, denouncing the company’s longstanding human rights abuses in multiple countries. The protest highlighted a stark discrepancy between the company’s public relations efforts and its record on worker rights.

Coca-Cola, in collaboration with the U.S. State Department and other organizations, launched a blockchain-based project to create a secure registry for workers aimed at combating forced labor in its supply chains. The initiative is designed to enhance labor protections and promote ethical sourcing practices.