PepsiCo updates sustainable packaging goals
On May 22, food and beverage giant PepsiCo announced a series of updates to its key sustainable development goals in areas such as climate, packaging, agriculture and water resources.
The updated packaging goals focus on key markets, which are believed to have the most positive impact while better responding to external factors that the company cannot control. PepsiCo plans to focus on investments aimed at improving the packaging life cycle by prioritizing work in key markets, continuously reducing the use of virgin plastics, improving packaging design, and eliminating plastic reuse goals.
Reuse packaging goal canceled: Previously, PepsiCo promised that by 2030, 20% of all beverages sold would be sold in a reusable mode. This goal has now been canceled.
Reduction target adjustment: By 2030, efforts will be made to achieve an average annual reduction of 2% in the absolute tonnage of virgin plastics. It was previously planned to reduce the absolute tonnage of virgin plastics from non-renewable sources by 20% by 2030.
Adjustment of reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging target: By 2030, 97% or more of its primary and secondary packaging will be designed to be reusable, recyclable or compostable. The original goal was to design 100% of its packaging to be recyclable, compostable, biodegradable or reusable by 2025.
Adjustment of recycled material use target: By 2035 or earlier, use 40% or more recycled content in plastic packaging. Previously set to reach 50% of recycled content in its plastic packaging by 2030.
PepsiCo said these goals remain ambitious and will continue to require investment, innovation and cross-sector collaboration to drive systemic change and support business, while challenges remain, and cited India and China as examples. India will not allow the use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) in beverage packaging until 2023, and will include food packaging this year. China currently does not allow the use of rPET in food-grade packaging.
The latest data submitted to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation showed that PepsiCo's use of virgin plastic increased from 2.18 million tons in 2020 to 2.3 million tons in 2023.
