PepsiCo Reduces their Carbon Footprint

 The article, "PepsiCo says it will reach net-zero emissions by 2040" written by Adele Peters interested me because the Pepsi company that many of us famously know of and drink is utilizing new ways of production to reduce their carbon footprint. Climate Change has been a big debate as well as a big problem over the past years for the world. Hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, glacier melting and many other consequences of climate change have begun to affect our Earth more and more and I think Pepsi's efforts in reducing their contribution to climate change is huge and will help motivate other large companies to make the same steps as well. 

As of today, Pepsi's carbon footprint is 57 million tons. After seeing the rapid affects climate change has been having on our planet, Pepsi decided to kick it into full gear and create new ways of operation which will reduce their carbon footprint by 75 percent in their factories and deliveries, and by 40 percent in its supply chain by the year 2030. In order to reach their goal Pepsi has begun using renewable energy. Solar powered machinery plans on being used as well as reducing plastic with new refill bottles. Not only is the company making changes in their own direct area of control but Pepsi is also working with the farms that supply their needed ingredients by teaching new practices that will reduce fertilizer use and carbon infused products that could affect the soil. 

The value proposition that Pepsi is bringing to the table is supplying one of America's most popular pops with a small fraction of greenhouse gas emissions being released into the atmosphere. Customers and consumers are now more intrigued to purchase Pepsi products vs. any other because it makes us feel good that we are also contributing to the decrease of our carbon footprint by supporting a company that is fighting against climate change. Climate Change has become one of the biggest world problems we face today and it is wearing down our Earth faster and faster as our population and greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase. Pepsi has opened a door to crisis management that will not only reduce their own carbon footprint by a dramatic amount but also influence other large companies to begin to do the same.

Challenges the company faces in their big step to change is the increase of funding they will have to spend  in order to introduce renewable energy using machinery into their production as well as creating new and effective models of reusable bottles. By the use of solar panels on their forklifts and other machinery this will greatly help contribute renewable energy products into their production centers. What's really unique about Pepsi's plan to reduce their carbon footprint is that at first they had a plan to reach their full goal of reducing their emissions by 2040. Although when seeing how rapidly climate change has been continuing to affect us they boosted their plans into faster and more effective action shaving a whole ten years off their original set date goal. Many big companies look for the cheapest ways to produce their goods for the consumers and only care about how much profit they have coming in, but Pepsi is showing their compassion and awareness of the planet's deteriorating condition and is taking big steps to correct their part in it. I think that this shows consumers that it is possible to still live and have the things we have in life right now but with a more positive contribution to reducing climate change.

I believe the approach was very good, Pepsi created a plan and set it into action and then decided to release to the public their goal with proof that steps have already been taken and they are serious about the crisis. If I were the brand or product manager I would reach out to other big companies and show them that they can do the same in hopes of having an even bigger impact on reducing climate change. A big company has a big voice and I think they can easily influence the public and even their competition to strive for better. After reading the article I learned that reducing our carbon footprint and putting a stop to climate change is possible if people take urgent actions and steps to do so. 

https://www.fastcompany.com/90594010/pepsico-says-it-will-reach-net-zero-emissions-by-2040

https://www.pepsi.com