PepsiCo To Eliminate Plastic Bottle Rings
PepsiCo will replace the plastic rings traditionally used on its multi-pack bottles with new paperboard designs.
The company is rolling out the new packaging as part of a phased, regional approach throughout the U.S. later this year. The initiative is part of its larger Pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) initiative to reduce packaging waste and builds upon PepsiCo's recent transition to paperboard in Canada.
PepsiCo paperboard wraps and clips will replace traditional plastic rings and include brands like Pepsi, Pepsi Zero, MTN Dew, Starry, Gatorade, and 7Up in Canada. The company touted the recyclable packaging as having a consumer-friendly branded design and intends for it to be easy to shelve.
PepsiCo, the No. 2 publicly owned consumer goods company, has ambitious Pep+ goals to reduce virgin plastic from nonrenewable sources by 50% by 2030, which it expects to eliminate millions of pounds of plastics while enabling packaging circularity.
In 2022, the company announced plans to double the percentage of beverage services provided through reusable models from 10% to 20% by 2030, achieving this through the expansion of refillable plastic and glass bottle offerings for SodaStream. The approach will impact 80 global markets, including Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Chile, Germany, and the Philippines.
PepsiCo will also accelerate growth in powders and concentrates for Gatorade, Propel, Muscle Milk, and Evolve Brands, allowing consumers to use their reusable containers.
Sustainable Packaging Progress
PepsiCo is part of a host of large consumer goods companies that are rethinking their packaging in order to advance their sustainability goals, with some CPGs looking at solutions that are more eco-friendly but may not be recyclable.
Competitor Coca-Cola recently launched a reusable packaging pilot that replaces single-use cups with reusable ones at prominent venues throughout North America, including large-scale sports and entertainment venues, cinemas, festivals, and events. Coca-Cola for its part has committed to a goal of 25% of its global product volume being served in reusable packaging by 2020, and the company is also executing packing test-and-learns throughout North America, including a returnable glass bottle pilot in El Paso, TX, with Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages.
Beam Suntory, meanwhile, recently shared that it's revamping its iconic green Laphroaig scotch whisky bottle with a design said to be more sustainable. As part of this, the spirits company is also making its packaging more recycling friendly.
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