Words by Smiley Team
Accounting for over a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, the food industry is one of the biggest culprits driving the climate crisis. That’s why it’s such good news that food producer Pepsico announced yesterday that it is striving to cut its emissions to net-zero by 2040.
This move is expected to decrease emissions by more than 26 million metric tons, the equivalent of removing over five million cars from the roads for one year.
Senior Associate at the World Resources Institute Nate Aden said: "We congratulate PepsiCo on setting an emissions reduction target consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C, the most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement. Companies have a vital role to play in driving down global emissions, and it is encouraging to see major players, such as PepsiCo, taking ambitious action."
As a first step, the company aims to reduce emissions across production and marketing processes by more than 40 per cent by 2030.
Already, it has achieved 100 per cent renewable electricity in the US and has plans to fully divest of fossil fuels in Mexico and Australia by the end of 2021.
But that’s not all. PepsiCo is aiming to go greener across its entire enterprise; from its energy consumption to its packaging, from employee flights to the sustainability of its farms.
With so much hinging on the environmental impact of the market, companies have a responsibility to act as soon as possible to prevent unimaginable climate breakdown and social collapse.
Hoping to inspire others, Chief sustainability officer at PepsiCo Jim Andrew said: "It's long overdue that companies move beyond just minimizing their environmental impact, they must actively work to improve and regenerate the planet."
PepsiCo chairman and CEO, Ramon Laguarta echoed this thought saying: "Our ambitious climate goal will guide us on the steep but critical path forward -- there is simply no other option but immediate and aggressive action."
