PepsiCo today announced its intention to double the percentage of beverage servings sold through reusable models from 10 to 20 percent by 2030. This initiative is part of PepsiCo Positive, the company's sustainability-focused business transformation strategy.
Reusable packaging is an important way for the company to meet its goals to reduce never-before-recycled plastic by 50 percent by 2030 and to become net zero carbon neutral by 2040.
"Fundamentally transforming the traditional beverage consumption model will require making reusable and refillable options accessible and convenient, at scale, for consumers–and that's what PepsiCo aims to do," said Jim Andrew, chief sustainability officer at PepsiCo, in a statement. "PepsiCo will accelerate our investment in disruptive innovation and advocate for policies that allow us to scale up reusable packaging options, platforms, and programs so that we can offer consumers a wide variety of alternative ways to enjoy their favorite beverages while moving away from reliance on single-use packaging."
PepsiCo will pursue various approaches to achieve its new packaging goal, including expanding its SodaStream business with SodaStream Professional (pictured above), building out its refillable plastic and glass bottle offerings, growing its fountain drinks business with reusable cups, and accelerating growth in powders and concentrates.
"We know we cannot recycle our way out of this plastic pollution crisis," said Sander Defruyt, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's plastic initiative lead, in a statement. "By avoiding single-use packaging waste in the first place, reuse business models are an important part of creating a circular economy… We welcome this significant step forward by PepsiCo and we hope other global brands will follow suit and similarly set quantitative reuse targets helping to reduce their use of virgin plastics in packaging."
Related: NielsenIQ: Sustainability in CPG to Become Bigger Priority; Nespresso Unveils Compostable Capsules