USA – PepsiCo has published its 2018 sustainability report outlining the company’s progress against its sustainability goals and announcing a new purpose behind its sustainability agenda: to help build a more sustainable food system.
PepsiCo notes that its ambitions to help build a more sustainable food system represents a key element of the company’s broader vision of accelerated, sustainable growth known as wining with purpose.
As part of ‘Winning with Purpose’, PepsiCo is striving to be a better company by further integrating purpose into the core of its business and brands and doing even more for people and the planet.
“We undoubtedly have a role to play in addressing the challenges of the modern food system, from climate change and resource scarcity, to packaging waste and income inequality,” said Ramon Laguarta, PepsiCo’s CEO and Chairman.
“As we strive to use our global scale for good, we are deeply committed to accelerating progress in our sustainability agenda.”
The report also highlights progress and goals in six priority areas where the company believes it can best make a contribution to building a more sustainable food system.
The global food and beverage company has put more emphasis on agriculture, water, packaging, products, climate and people.
By working to source ingredients through more sustainable and resilient agriculture, PepsiCo says that it is raising standards for efficient use of resources, environmental consciousness and worker rights on farms around the world.
By the end of 2018, more than half of PepsiCo’s direct farmer-sourced agricultural raw materials were verified as sustainably sourced through its Sustainable Farming Program and is working toward its target to reach 100% by the end of 2020.
In terms of packaging, PepsiCo recently announced a new target to reduce 35% of virgin plastic content across its beverage portfolio by 2025.
The company also aims to use 25% recycled content in its plastic packaging by 2025 and 50% recycled content in its plastic bottles in the European Union by 2030.
PepsiCo also noted that it will continue investing innovatively to improve the choices it offers consumers by reducing added sugars, sodium and saturated fat, and expanding its product portfolio with new innovations and acquisitions based on nutritious ingredients.
In the US alone, PepsiCo has nearly 500 beverage choices with 100 Calories or less per 12 oz. serving, and in 2018 and early 2019 added brands like Bare Snacks and Cytosport to its portfolio.
PepsiCo has also set a goal to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 20% by 2030, from a 2015 baseline.
PepsiCo is driving down emissions throughout its value chain to mitigate the impact of climate change.
In 2018, PepsiCo reduced Scope 3 emissions (outside the company’s direct operations) by approximately 2.2 million metric tons, in addition to decreasing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 6.4% within its direct operations.
“Advancing sustainability and being a more purposeful company will play an essential role in PepsiCo’s future,” Laguarta noted.
