PepsiCo has made significant strides in reducing its virgin plastic use, according to its latest Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report released in 2024. The report highlights the company’s commitment to sustainability and outlines its progress toward achieving newly revamped sustainability goals.
One of the key achievements mentioned in the report is PepsiCo’s 5% reduction in virgin plastic use in 2024, surpassing its annual target of 2%. This accomplishment demonstrates the company’s dedication to reducing its environmental impact and moving towards more sustainable practices.
Chief Sustainability Officer Jim Andrew emphasized the importance of transparency in communicating these changes and the need to adapt to evolving external realities. The company’s PepsiCo Positive sustainability program, launched in 2021, has provided valuable insights that have informed these strategic shifts.
Packaging sustainability remains a core focus for PepsiCo, with a strong emphasis on creating a world where packaging never becomes waste. The company’s sustainable packaging approach revolves around three core principles: reduce, recycle, and reinvent. The “reinvent” pillar focuses on driving packaging and material innovations to support a circular economy.
In terms of plastic reduction goals, PepsiCo has adjusted its targets to align with current sustainability trends. The company now aims to reduce virgin plastics by 2% annually through 2030, with a focus on primary plastic packaging in key markets. In 2024, PepsiCo achieved a 5% reduction in virgin plastic use, marking a significant improvement from previous years.
Additionally, PepsiCo is committed to increasing the use of recycled content in its plastic packaging. The company aims to reach 40% or more recycled content by 2035, with progress reported at around 15% in 2024. This shift towards recycled materials underscores PepsiCo’s commitment to sustainable packaging solutions.
Furthermore, PepsiCo is actively pursuing initiatives to promote reusable, recyclable, and compostable packaging options. The company aims to have at least 97% of its packaging be reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2030. Progress towards this goal was evident in 2024, with PepsiCo reaching 93% for primary and secondary packaging in key markets.
In terms of emissions reductions, PepsiCo reported significant progress towards its targets. The company recorded an 18% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2024, as part of its goal to achieve a 50% reduction by 2030. Additionally, progress was made towards reducing scope 3 energy and industry emissions by 42% by 2030.
Overall, PepsiCo’s latest ESG report reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability and its proactive efforts to drive positive change in the industry. By setting ambitious goals and implementing innovative strategies, PepsiCo is paving the way for a more sustainable future.
