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Pepsico Europe to End Fossil-Based Plastic in All Snack Packs Over the Next Decade
20 Jan 2022It sets a goal of using 100% recycled or renewable content in all packages by 2030, reducing greenhouse gases per package by 40%. Packs containing recycled content will be introduced to markets starting next year. As part of its pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) ambition, PepsiCo will work to build a circular economy for flexible packaging in Europe by breathing new life into design, infrastructure and packaging materials.
Following its sustainability-based end-to-end transformation strategy PepsiCo Positive, PepsiCo Europe announced its plan to eliminate the use of fossil-based plastic in all snack packs by 2030. This destination will include all snack brands, including Doritos, Ruffles, Cheetos and Lay's (Walkers), and will feature 100% recycled or renewable content in packaging.
Consumer trials of the packaging will begin in European markets in 2022, with renewable content in a Lay's line in France in the first half of the year. Later in the year, a range from UK brand Walkers will begin trials with recycled content. Renewable content will come from previously used plastic, and renewable content will come from by-products of plants, such as used cooking oil or waste from pulp. PepsiCo estimates it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions per ton of packaging by 40% by switching to fossil fuel-free materials.
PepsiCo Europe CEO Silviu Popovici commented: "Flexible packaging recycling should be the norm across Europe. We envision a future where our packages will be free of fossil-based plastic. Flexible packaging will be part of the evolving circular economy, where it is valued and can be recycled as a new package. We are investing to build technological capacity to achieve this goal. We now need an appropriate regulatory environment so that packaging never becomes waste."
PepsiCo uses flexible plastic in its snack packaging because the soft packaging used to produce its chips packets is lighter than alternative packaging and therefore has a lower carbon footprint. It also reduces food waste as it is very efficient at keeping food fresh. However, PepsiCo recognizes that change is needed to reduce the amount of plastic used and enable a flexible packaging cycle. PepsiCo Europe will focus its work on three strategic pillars in this context: correct design; The right new life for the right infrastructure and flexible packaging. Beyond the transition to renewable and recycled content, PepsiCo has developed a new program called "Making Packages Better", which will focus on a series of investments and innovations to recycle and reuse more flexible plastic in Europe.
Correct design
PepsiCo Europe is moving all its packages to materials that make them easier to recycle, using innovative design technology to create a simpler package structure. New pack designs include larger proportions of recyclable plastics such as Polypropylene, often referred to as 'mono-materials'. These comply with recycling design guidelines developed by the Circular Flexible Packaging Economy (CEFLEX), agreed by a group of stakeholders active in the flexible packaging value chain.
As Gerald Rebitzer, Director of Sustainability at AMCOR, PepsiCo's flexible packaging partner in Europe, says: "We are building a future where flexible packaging is part of the circular economy. Together with PepsiCo, we have developed the material technologies in PepsiCo's new chips pack to make recycling easier. We are starting to integrate renewable and recycled content into PepsiCo's packaging. To meet the demands of our customers like PepsiCo, we encourage more partners to invest in the supply chains of these new materials." We do."
PepsiCo is also working to reduce unnecessary packaging in its single packs and multipacks – as part of its commitment to a 50% reduction in new plastic per serving by 2030. Progress is being made towards this goal, including in markets such as the UK, where PepsiCo has reduced the outer layer of multipack by up to 30% across its product range by using innovative technology in its production facilities.
Right infrastructure
PepsiCo is committed to investing in the infrastructure to give flexible packaging a second chance at life and advocating for policy changes that will make this possible. As part of this approach, PepsiCo Europe supports accelerating the landfill ban and setting bold recycling targets for flexible packaging, including the rapid adoption of EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) charges to ensure flexible films are collected, sorted and truly recycled.
Right new life
PepsiCo will focus on increasing demand for recycled content made from flexible packaging to support its wider use. Alongside the company's recycled plastic content trials planned for this year, the company also continues to explore new life possibilities for snack packs. While PepsiCo's goal is pack-to-pack conversion suitable for food packaging, it is clear that improving the collection, sorting and recycling of flexible films to produce valuable and durable products is an important first step towards a circular future for flexible packaging. That's why PepsiCo is also exploring turning the packs into plastic pellets to be remade into items such as floor poles and as parts in the automotive industry. The announcement is the latest of the company's ambitious plans to build a world where packaging never becomes waste, which is one of the focal points of PepsiCo Pozitif. The company had previously announced plans to transform beverage packaging. Pepsi will transition its brand to 100% recycled plastic (100% rPET) bottles in eleven (11) European markets by 2022, and will also continue to invest in building a reusable model through SodaStream, which aims to reduce the use of an estimated 200 billion plastic bottles by 2030. “Through collaboration and innovation, we can chart a path to a viable circular economy for our food packaging in Europe,” said Archana Jagannathan, Senior Director, Sustainable Packaging, PepsiCo Europe. "Today, the supply of recycled and renewable materials for flexible materials is extremely limited. The regulatory environment is very dynamic and we need greater clarity on policy and recognized technologies. If policy and waste collection infrastructure for flexible packaging accelerates, similar to beverage bottle packaging, we will accelerate our plans and move even faster to deliver on our commitments."
Part A of the ERG is based on the Cradle to Grave Life Cycle Assessment provided by Franklin Associates, using cut-off methodology, a mix of data provided by suppliers and industry, and an estimated end-of-life scenario of 2030. This Assessment includes carbon storage credits, waste-to-energy electricity generation credits, and avoided legacy waste processing credits.
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