Ron Khan has been vice president of beverages packaging at PepsiCo since 2015. The following quotes from him have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
1. Pulpex, The World’s First Fully Recyclable Paper Bottle
Introducing new sustainable packaging formats, like the Pulpex bottle, is just one of the ways PepsiCo is realizing its pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) transformation, which puts sustainability at the center of its business. The goal is to inspire positive change for people and the planet. Alongside a consortium of global consumer goods companies, PepsiCo is working to develop and scale the first fully recyclable paper bottle.
We expect the Pulpex bottle to be a gamechanger. Made from sustainably sourced pulp, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and designed to be fully recyclable in standard paper streams, the Pulpex bottle also meets the challenge of holding liquids. This technology excites me because it provides a rare opportunity to create an entirely new packaging format, which will help us build a more circular and inclusive value chain.
2. Introducing Compostable Snack Packaging
We’re looking at sustainable packaging solutions for use across our beverage and food portfolio. In addition to new beverage packaging solutions, PepsiCo has been investing in breakthrough food packaging technology and is introducing a fully compostable snack bag made with plant-based materials. Starting with Off The Eaten Path, one of Frito-Lay’s plant-based brands, this industrially compostable packaging is available to consumers in the U.S. at select retailers. The production of the materials for these bags creates 60% less greenhouse gas emissions than the production of traditional packaging, and reduces the amount of plastic waste.
We’re proud to play a role in creating a more circular food packaging system and, given the importance of these efforts, we plan to license the technology to other companies at no cost.
3. Pepsi Moves To 100% Recycled Plastic (rPET) In Key Markets
In the U.S., all Pepsi-branded products will convert to 100% rPET bottles by 2030, with 11 European markets moving key Pepsi-branded products to 100% rPET by 2022. Leveraging our iconic brands to drive recycling awareness, education and advocacy, Pepsi celebrated this important move to sustainable packaging in the U.S. with a new consumer-centric platform tied to fall football, while in Europe a Pepsi MAX campaign touts “Nothing tastes better than a 100% recycled bottle.”
We estimate this packaging shift will lower greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 30% per bottle. The plan goes beyond the Pepsi brand in select European markets, incorporating 7UP, Mountain Dew, Lipton Iced Tea and Mirinda as well. As a result of technological innovations in the appearance, functionality and availability of recycled plastic materials, we’ve been able to accelerate our progress and hope to drive toward additional packaging sustainability improvements.
4. Driving Reuse With SodaStream
Along with making our packaging more recyclable, we must continue to scale new business models that require little or no single-use packaging. SodaStream, already sold in more than 40 countries, is bringing PepsiCo flavor options like Pepsi Zero Sugar, Lipton and bubly to 23 markets.
The SodaStream Professional platform, which lets people personalize their beverages in an environmentally friendly way at places like college campuses, offices and travel hubs, will expand into functional beverages and reach more than 10 additional markets by the end of 2022, helping consumers avoid more than 200 billion plastic bottles by 2030.
As a company, we aim to build a stronger and more sustainable future, and I believe introducing these types of innovative packaging solutions can help move the needle and bring us one step closer to a world where packaging never becomes waste.
Packaging 360 is a comprehensive knowledge sharing ecosystem for the Indian packaging industry. Our services include an online content platform to deliver news, insights and case studies; organising conferences seminars and customised training; Providing Bespoke Project Consulting, Market Research and Intelligence.
