PEPSICO Europe aims to eliminate plastic in all chips and crisps packaging in the next decade

Following the introduction of PepsiCo Positive, the company’s end-to-end strategic transformation with sustainability at its core, PepsiCo Europe today announces that by 2030 it plans to eliminate fossil-based virgin plastic in its crisps and chips packaging. This ambition will apply to brands such as Walkers, Doritos and Lay’s and will be delivered by using 100% recycled or renewable plastic in its packaging.

Consumer trials of the packaging will begin in European markets in 2022, starting with renewable plastic in a Lay’s range in France in the first half of the year. Later in the year, a Walkers branded range in the UK will test recycled content. The recycled content in the packs will be derived from previously used plastic and the renewable content will come from plant by-products such as used cooking oil or waste pulp. PepsiCo estimates that it could achieve up to a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, per tonne of packaging material, by switching to fossil-free virgin material.

Silviu Popovici, Chief Executive Officer, PepsiCo Europe commented: “Packaging recycling should be the norm across Europe. We see a future where our packaging will not contain virgin fossil-based plastic. They will become part of a thriving circular economy, where flexible packaging is valued and can be recycled as new packaging. We are investing together with our partners to build the technological capacity to do this. We now need proper regulation so that packaging never becomes waste.”

PepsiCo uses flexible plastic for its chips and crisps packaging – the soft wrap is used to make these packs because it is lighter compared to alternative packaging and therefore has a lower carbon footprint. It is also highly effective at keeping food fresh, thus reducing food waste. However, PepsiCo recognises that a shift is needed to reduce the amount of fossil-based virgin plastic that is used and to drive circularity in flexible packaging. PepsiCo Europe will focus its work on three strategic pillars: the right design; the right infrastructure and the right new life for flexible packaging.

In addition to the shift to renewable and recycled content, PepsiCo has developed its ‘Making Bags Better’ programme, which will focus on various investments and innovations to get more flexible plastics recycled and reused in Europe.