US – American multinational food and beverage company, PepsiCo, has introduced a new packaging goal, doubling down on scaling reusable packaging options as part of PepsiCo Positive (pep+).

The global packaging goal is intended to double the percentage of all beverage servings the company sells delivered through reusable models from 10 to 20 percent by 2030. 

It has been an important element of PepsiCo’s Sustainable Packaging Vision since 2018 to eliminate the need for single-use virgin plastic in its iconic beverages.

In 2018, the company invested over US$3.2B to acquire SodaStream, the world’s leading reuse platform, and expressed its commitment to a circular economy for plastics by joining the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment.

According to PepsiCo, Reuse is also a critical lever to meet its goals to reduce virgin plastic per serving by 50% by 2030 and to become Net Zero by 2040. Progress toward these goals will also be driven–in partnership with its bottlers–by increasing recycled content in the packaging.  

PepsiCo has more than 80 markets around the world offering reusable packaging solutions. It is aiming to reduce the use of virgin plastic across its packaging portfolio by 35% by 2025 and achieve an average of 25% recycled content in the same timeframe.

Aligned with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s “Reuse–Rethinking Packaging” framework, PepsiCo will pursue four approaches to achieve its new packaging goal.

The goals include expanding its SodaStream business, which can potentially eliminate the need for more than 200 billion plastic bottles by 2030, both at home and in workplaces through SodaStream Professional.

PepsiCo is the owner of SodaStream, which produces machines that can be used in homes and businesses to create sparkling water and other carbonated beverages in reusable models.

The beverage giant launched professional SodaStream offerings in France this year and is set to scale the initiative in other European markets in 2023. PepsiCo has owned SodaStream since 2018.

Building out its Refillable and returnable glass and plastic programs in major markets including Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Chile, Germany, and the Philippines, in partnership with PepsiCo bottlers, PepsiCo has trailed the use of reusable cups at venues, such as stadiums and restaurants.

PepsiCo has tested various approaches in the category in partnership with the Closed Loop Partners NextGen Consortium, whose members also include McDonald’s, Starbucks, Wendy’s, Peet’s, Wendy’s and The Coca-Cola Company USA. WWF acts as the Consortium’s advisory partner.

In addition, the company is planning to grow its fountain drinks business with reusable cups; and accelerate growth in powders and concentrates.

Many of PepsiCo’s brands, including Gatorade, Propel, Muscle Milk, and Evolve, are offered as concentrated powders or tablets to allow consumers to customize the drink to their preferences in their containers.

“Fundamentally transforming the traditional beverage consumption model will require making reusable and refillable options accessible and convenient, at scale, for European consumers–and that’s what we aim to do,” said PepsiCo Europe’s chief sustainability officer Katharina Stenholm.

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