Pepsico's Plastic Problem: How Much Is Too Much?

PepsiCo, one of the world's leading food and beverage companies, has been working to reduce its plastic waste and improve its sustainability. The company has set targets to make 100% of its packaging recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable by 2025. In addition, PepsiCo aims to reduce virgin plastic use per serving by half across all brands by 2030 and use 50% recycled content in all its plastic packaging. The company has also invested in partnerships to improve recycling infrastructure and collection systems worldwide, with a focus on regions most affected by ocean plastic pollution. While PepsiCo's efforts have been recognized, some environmental groups and activists call for more ambitious targets and actions, particularly in reducing single-use plastic waste.

PepsiCo's plastic usage

PepsiCo, one of the world's leading food and beverage companies, has been ranked among the world's worst plastic polluters. The company uses 2.3 million metric tons of plastic every year, according to Greenpeace.

In recent years, PepsiCo has made efforts to reduce its plastic waste and transition to more sustainable packaging. The company has set targets to make 100% of its packaging recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable by 2025. This includes increasing its use of recycled content in plastic packaging to 25%. For example, the company's premium water brand LIFEWTR will be packaged in 100% rPET in the US, and its Naked Juice brand is already packaged in rPET. In 2020, the company also stopped packaging its bubly brand in plastic bottles.

PepsiCo has also expanded its SodaStream business, which allows consumers to make beverages at home and avoid using single-use plastic bottles. The company estimates that this initiative will help avoid 67 billion plastic bottles over five years. In addition, PepsiCo has partnered with REDcycle in Australia to help convert chip packets into new products, such as outdoor furniture and bollards.

The company is also exploring non-fossil-fuel-based sources for packaging materials, including plant-based options that have a lighter carbon footprint than oil-based plastics. In 2020, PepsiCo joined the Pulpex consortium to create and scale the world's first recyclable paper bottle, made from sustainably sourced pulp.

PepsiCo has also set goals to reduce its use of virgin plastic. The company plans to eliminate virgin plastic from Pepsi beverage bottles sold in nine European Union markets by 2022, which is expected to eliminate over 70,000 tonnes of virgin plastic per year. By 2030, PepsiCo aims to reduce virgin plastic use per serving by half across all brands and use 50% recycled content in all its plastic packaging.

Plastic reduction initiatives

According to Greenpeace, PepsiCo uses 2.3 million metric tonnes of plastic annually, making it one of the world's worst plastic polluters. However, the company has set targets and initiatives to reduce plastic waste and increase recycling rates.

SodaStream Collaboration

PepsiCo has partnered with SodaStream to launch its first branded SodaStream product in North America, called "bubly drops". This collaboration supports PepsiCo's sustainability and single-use plastic reduction targets. As part of the initiative, bubly is no longer packaged in plastic bottles, and the SodaStream Professional hydration platform allows consumers to digitally track their plastic bottle savings.

Transition to rPET Packaging

PepsiCo has committed to eliminating virgin plastic from Pepsi beverage bottles sold in nine European Union markets by 2022, including Germany, France, and Great Britain. This move is expected to eliminate 70,000 tonnes of conventional virgin plastic annually and reduce GHG emissions per bottle by approximately 40%.

Exploring Alternative Packaging Materials

PepsiCo is exploring non-fossil-fuel-based sources for packaging materials, including plant-based options with a lighter carbon footprint than oil-based plastics. They have joined the Pulpex consortium to develop the world's first recyclable paper bottle, made from sustainably sourced pulp and designed for standard paper recycling streams.

Partnerships for Improved Recycling

Recognizing the challenges of low recycling rates and limited processing capacity, PepsiCo is investing in partnerships to improve recycling infrastructure globally. They are also working with the Carbios Consortium to support the development of enzymatic recycling, which uses enzymes to break down PET for reuse.

Reducing Virgin Plastic Use

PepsiCo has set a target to reduce virgin plastic use per serving by 50% across all brands by 2030 and aims to use 50% recycled content in its plastic packaging. This includes a focus on scaling new business models that eliminate or reduce single-use packaging, with a goal of delivering 20% of beverage servings via reusables by 2030.

Consumer Education and Empowerment

PepsiCo Recycling strives to create change and empower consumers to take action through various recycling programs, partnerships, and events. For example, they work with K-12 schools to boost excitement about recycling and provide tools to support recycling efforts. The PepsiCo Recycling Roadster, a hybrid vehicle, travels around the country to educate people about the importance of recycling.

Recycling infrastructure

PepsiCo has been working on reducing plastic waste and advancing its recycling infrastructure. The company has set targets to make 100% of its packaging recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable by 2025.

In 2019, PepsiCo announced a new target to reduce 35% of virgin plastic content across its beverage portfolio by 2025, equating to the elimination of 2.5 million metric tons of virgin plastic. The company plans to achieve this by increasing its use of recycled content and alternative packaging materials for its beverage brands. For example, its premium water brand LIFEWTR will be packaged in 100% rPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate) in the US, and bubly will no longer be packaged in plastic from 2020. In addition, the company is investing in innovative, new forms of packaging, such as the biodegradable and compostable packaging they are developing in partnership with Danimer Scientific.

PepsiCo is also working to improve recycling infrastructure and collection systems. They are investing in partnerships to improve recycling and collection infrastructure worldwide to increase recycling rates. The company is also supporting recycling initiatives in regions most affected by ocean plastics, such as South and Southeast Asia, where they have invested in Circulate Capital to catalyse investment in solutions to reduce ocean plastic pollution.

In 2020, PepsiCo joined the Pulpex consortium with other global consumer goods companies to create and scale the world's first recyclable paper bottle. This technology is made from sustainably sourced pulp and is designed to be fully recyclable in standard paper streams.

In addition to these efforts, PepsiCo is expanding its SodaStream carbonated-water business to more markets, which will help reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles. The company has also set a goal to eliminate all virgin plastic from Pepsi brand beverage bottles sold in nine European Union markets by 2022, which is expected to eliminate over 70,000 tonnes of conventional virgin plastic per year and lower GHG emissions per bottle by roughly 40%.

PepsiCo is committed to driving systemic change across the entire plastics value chain and is actively partnering with other industry leaders to innovate the future of packaging and improve recycling infrastructure.

Plastic packaging alternatives

PepsiCo, one of the world's leading food and beverage companies, uses approximately 2.3 million metric tonnes of plastic annually, according to Greenpeace. Recognising the need to reduce plastic waste, the company has set targets to make all its packaging recyclable, compostable, or degradable.

Paper-based alternatives

Paper is a highly recyclable material that can be sustainably sourced. However, it poses challenges when it comes to containing liquids. For example, PepsiCo has partnered with Pulpex consortium to create the world's first recyclable paper bottle made from sustainably sourced pulp.

Plant-based plastics

Also known as bioplastics, these plastics are made from cornstarch and bamboo fibres, which can be broken down into polylactic acid. They have similar properties to traditional plastics, and many are biodegradable in industrial landfills or home composts.

Bagasse

Bagasse is the dry fibrous material leftover from sugarcane after juice extraction. It is a biodegradable, compostable, and malleable alternative to single-use plastic tableware and utensils. As it is a byproduct of sugarcane production, it is also relatively more sustainable to produce.

Algae-based replacements

There are various compounds derived from algae that can be used to create "plastics" with similar properties to traditional plastics but without the negative environmental impact.

Metal packaging

Before the widespread use of plastic, metal was commonly used for packaging. With the current trend of plastic replacement, the metal packaging industry is expected to grow, making it a viable alternative.

By adopting these alternatives and continuing to innovate, PepsiCo and other companies can reduce their reliance on single-use plastics and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Environmental impact

PepsiCo, one of the world's leading food and beverage companies, has been ranked among the world's worst plastic polluters by Greenpeace. The company uses 2.3 million metric tons of plastic annually, according to Greenpeace, and is responsible for over 100 billion bottles of single-use plastic.

Recognizing the significant role it can play in addressing plastic waste, PepsiCo has set targets to reduce its environmental impact. The company is committed to reducing plastic waste and has made efforts to transition to more sustainable packaging. They have set a goal of making 100% of their packaging recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable by 2025.

To achieve this, PepsiCo is exploring non-fossil-fuel-based sources for packaging materials, including plant-based alternatives that have a lower carbon footprint than oil-based plastics. They are also working to minimize the amount of plastic leaking into the oceans by supporting recycling initiatives, particularly in regions heavily affected by ocean plastics.

In addition, PepsiCo has expanded its SodaStream business, which offers a reusable alternative to single-use plastic bottles. The company estimates that this initiative will help avoid 67 billion plastic bottles over five years. They have also partnered with REDcycle in Australia to convert chip packets and other soft plastics into new products, such as outdoor furniture and bollards.

PepsiCo has also set a target to reduce virgin plastic use per serving by half across all brands by 2030 and use 50% recycled content in all its plastic packaging. They plan to eliminate fossil fuel-based plastic in all crisp and chip bags by 2030, with consumer trials already underway in several markets.

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