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The
Doritos chips and Tropicana juice maker said it would initially
cut greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 75% and by
40% in areas that are outside its own manufacturing processes
and supply chain by 2030.
The food-and-beverage giant generated about 57 million metric
tonnes of greenhhouse gas emissions globally in 2019, according
to its latest annual sustainability report. Over the next nine
years, it hopes to cut those emissions by just under half, or an
absolute 26 million metric tonnes.
The Purchase, New York-based company said it would first focus
on its agricultural supply system, which contributes to a third
of PepsiCo's greenhouse gas emissions, before turning to carbon
sequestration.
PepsiCo will accelerate the use of smart irrigation systems,
improve soil health and reduce deforestation, its chief
sustainability officer, Jim Andrew, said in an interview with
Reuters.
Other steps will include the use of renewable energy in its
offices, recycled PET bottles for beverages, cutting back on
business flights and creating sustainable packaging, the company
said.
PepsiCo and rival Coca-Cola, which has set its own target of
cutting supply chain emissions by 25% by 2030, have emerged as
new targets for global activism because of the amount of
single-use plastic waste they generate.
Last year tied with 2016 as the world's warmest year on record,
rounding off the hottest decade globally, with scientists saying
countries and corporations needed to slash greenhouse gas
emissions quickly to avoid catastrophic climate change.
"We have to drive systemic change. That is going to require
partnerships with customers, suppliers, co-packers ... and
sometimes competitors to do all of that," Andrew said.
(Reporting by Siddharth Cavale in Bengaluru; Editing by
Ramakrishnan M.)
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