PepsiCo is moving forward with more sustainable packaging, announcing that its LIFEWTR brand will be packaged in 100 percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) and bubly will no longer be packaged in plastic. In addition, the company's Aquafina water brand will also offer aluminum can packaging in U.S. food service outlets. The changes will go into effect next year and are expected to eliminate more than 8,000 metric tons of plastic and approximately 11,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The move helps the company reach its goal to make 100 percent of its packaging recyclable, compostable or biodegradable by 2025.
"Tackling plastic waste is one of my top priorities and I take this challenge personally," PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta says. "As one of the world's leading food and beverage companies, we recognize the significant role PepsiCo can play in helping to change the way society makes, uses, and disposes of plastics. We are doing our part to address the issue head on by reducing, recycling and reinventing our packaging to make it more sustainable, and we won't stop until we live in a world where plastics are renewed and reused."
The company is one of the largest users of food-grade recycled PET in the world. In tandem with current suppliers and partners like The Recycling Partnership, Loop Industries, Alliance to End Plastic Waste and World Economic Forum's Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), PepsiCo is aiming to increase recycling rates and improve the plastic recycling infrastructure.
"We are really excited to evolve our packaging across PepsiCo's water portfolio to make a positive impact," says Stacy Taffet, Vice President Water portfolio for PepsiCo. "We created LIFEWTR to be an inspirational and purpose-driven brand, and we're expanding that vision by using recycled packaging to deliver our premium water. At the same time, bubly, our sparkling water brand that is full of flavor and personality, has already shaken up the sparkling water category and will continue to do so with this bold move."
