2019 PepsiCo Sustainability Report: Here’s how the food and beverages major is trying to build a more sustainable food system

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In the PepsiCo’s 2019 Sustainability Report, it has been revealed that approximately 80% of the company’s farmer-sourced agricultural raw materials, such as whole corn, oats and potatoes were verified as sustainably sourced in the year 2019.

As per the report, PepsiCo has a responsibility to use its influence to help tackle long-term challenges, including addressing the threats to the food system which have been further strained by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The report shares progress across the priority areas where the food and beverages major believes it could have the most meaningful impact:
– Agriculture
– Water
– Climate
– Packaging
– Products
– People

Here are the key highlights of the report:

Delivering Safe Water Access

• The PepsiCo Foundation has helped more than 44 million people around the world gain access to safe water.

• The U.S. multinational food and beverage maker has set an ambitious new target to reach a total of 100 million people by 2030

• The company will focus on:
– Water Distribution
– Sanitation
– Hygiene Programs in order to bolster public health in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Sustainable Farming Program

• Pepsi is working to improve farmer livelihoods while raising standards for:
– Efficient Resource Use
– Environmental Consciousness
– Worker Rights

• Through the Sustainable Farming Program (SFP), in 2019, roughly 80% of PepsiCo’s farmer-sourced agricultural raw materials, like potatoes, whole corn, oranges, and oats were verified as sustainably sourced, meeting the SFP’s criteria. This is part of the American multinational corporation’s progress towards its goal of reaching 100% by the end of 2020.

Accelerating Action on Climate Change

• In the year 2019, PepsiCo decreased its absolute Greenhouse Gas emissions by 6% across its global value chain.

• In April 2020, PepsiCo affirmed its plans to accelerate action on climate change by signing the United Nations Business Ambition for 1.5°C pledge.

• 9 countries in PepsiCo’s European business operations already use 100% of their electricity from renewable sources, the report said.

It is worth noting that the soda giant in 2019 priced the company’s first-ever green bond. The net proceeds from the offering will help cut virgin-plastic consumption and replenish the water it consumes in making snacks and sodas.

Also, Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo, last year announced to replace all of its diesel-powered freight equipment with zero-emission (ZE) and near-ZE technologies at its California manufacturing site.