Is Zevia Woke?

Company Overview

Zevia PBC is a publicly traded (NYSE: ZVIA) better-for-you beverage company offering zero-sugar, zero-calorie sodas, energy drinks, tea drinks, and mixers sweetened with stevia rather than artificial sweeteners or sugar. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Zevia markets itself as a health-conscious, planet-friendly alternative to conventional soda. The company's products are sold without plastic bottles — exclusively in recyclable aluminum cans — and use non-GMO, plant-based ingredients. Zevia has carved out a niche in the natural foods channel and has been expanding into mainstream grocery distribution.

ESG & Sustainability

Zevia has been a Certified B Corporation since June 2021, scoring an 88.1 on its 2025 B Impact Assessment (down slightly from 91.2 in 2023). The B Corp certification requires meeting rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Zevia's ESG messaging centers on reducing sugar consumption (claiming over 79,000 metric tons of sugar avoided since 2011), eliminating plastic packaging (over 30,000 metric tons of plastic saved), and sustainable stevia sourcing. The company maintains an ESG committee and publishes detailed impact reports. The formal B Corp certification and structured ESG reporting earn 10 points on our scale.

DEI Programs

Zevia has documented DEI workplace practices, including a DEI&B (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging) Taskforce and public recognition from Comparably for workplace diversity, including a "Best CEO for Diversity" award. The company's 10-K filing references a vendor code of conduct with supplier diversity provisions and emphasizes an "inclusive culture." However, Zevia's DEI efforts are relatively modest compared to corporate giants — there are no published hiring quotas, no identity-based ERG infrastructure visible at scale, and the company has not signed the CEO Action for Diversity pledge. The documented DEI practices and awards earn 10 points.

LGBTQ+ Advocacy

Zevia does not produce Pride-themed products, sponsor Pride events, or participate in the HRC Corporate Equality Index. This is notable for a Los Angeles-based natural foods brand operating in a category where Pride marketing has become commonplace. The company's silence on LGBTQ+ advocacy is consistent with its focus on health-and-planet messaging rather than identity politics. Zero points for LGBTQ+ advocacy.

Political Activity

Zevia has no corporate PAC, makes no documented political donations, and has not engaged in partisan political advocacy. The company's public benefit corporation structure requires consideration of stakeholder interests beyond shareholders, but this has not translated into political activism. No CEO Action pledge signature was found. Zero points.

Consumer Impact

Zevia scores 20/100, placing it in the "mildly woke" category — closer to the clean end of the soda aisle than the woke end. Its score comes entirely from B Corp/ESG certification (10 points) and documented DEI workplace practices (10 points). Notably, Zevia has zero points for Pride activism, zero for HRC CEI, zero for political giving, and zero for CEO Action. For values-based consumers, Zevia is a reasonable alternative to the major woke soda conglomerates. Its B Corp certification and DEI taskforce indicate some progressive corporate infrastructure, but the company's primary identity is built around health and environmental sustainability rather than cultural activism. The absence of Pride marketing, political donations, and HRC participation is a positive sign — it suggests Zevia is more interested in selling better beverages than in lecturing customers about identity politics. Compared to Coca-Cola (which scores much higher across multiple woke dimensions) or PepsiCo, Zevia is a genuinely cleaner option. Consumers who want the absolute cleanest soda choices should look at family-owned regional brands like Cheerwine or Ale-8-One, but Zevia is a solid mid-tier option that keeps its woke footprint small and focused on product quality rather than progressive signaling.