USA – American food and beverage company PepsiCo has joined the World Resource Institute’s Cool Food Pledge which aims to slash food-related greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030. 

According to WRI, the Cool Food Pledge is a growing movement of workplaces, hotels, universities, hospitals, and restaurants committed to serve climate-friendly food. 

New York-based PepsiCo joined the movement together with other leading institutions including the University of Texas at Austin, ISS World Services A/S and healthcare organizations Providence and the Mount Sinai Health System. 

“At PepsiCo we are taking bold action to help build a more sustainable food system. This begins with the actions we take in our daily lives at home and at work,” said Cesc Bordas, SVP Global Brands Sustainability and Purpose at PepsiCo. 

“In line with our pep+ goal of net zero emissions by 2040, we are excited to introduce Cool Food in our workplaces, highlight the relationship between food and climate, and offer our associates more plant-forward options.”  

Data indicate that if current Cool Food Pledge signatories collectively hit the 25% reduction target by 2030, it would reduce annual food-related emissions by 1.3 million t CO2e – the equivalent to taking roughly 285,000 U.S. passenger vehicles off the road.   

Frito-Lay to use electric vehicle fleet  

Earlier, PepsiCo introduced a new fleet of 40 electric vehicles for its Frito-Lay North America business serving the Dallas Fort Worth area. 

The maker of Lays and Doritos snack brands said the move will help the company cut approximately 390 tonnes of GHG per year. 

“Frito-Lay recognizes our opportunity to utilize our size and scale to advance technology throughout our supply chain while reducing environmental impacts as we move our products more sustainably,” said David Allen, vice president of sustainability, PepsiCo Foods North America. 

 “The implementation of these 40 100% electric, zero-emissions route trucks is one of the many ways we’re improving air quality and reducing Frito-Lay’s absolute greenhouse gas emissions in the Dallas Fort Worth area.”   

In addition, PepsiCo said Frito-Lay is decarbonizing its fleet through the nationwide use of Renewable Compressed Natural Gas and other new zero- and near-zero emission vehicles. 

PepsiCo said Frito-Lay already has achieved 100% renewable electricity at all of its US plants, offices and distribution centers.  

In addition, all of Frito-Lay’s US manufacturing sites use LED lighting with an expected GHG emissions savings equivalent to 21,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, PepsiCo said. 

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