Food and beverage company PepsiCo is stretching its sustainability agenda into packaging materials by switching over to biodegradable and flexible film resin as packaging material.
Accordingly, it has announced a tie-up with Danimer Scientific, which makes biodegradable film resins.
The makeover in packaging reflects the multinational company's 2025 sustainability agenda, with a goal of designing 100 percent recoverable or recyclable packaging materials.
"From the start, PepsiCo has taken a holistic approach to our sustainability work," said Mehmood Khan, PepsiCo vice chairman and CSO.
Pepsi has a past association with Danimer Scientific for making bio-based compostable packaging for snack brands.
The expanding collaboration with Danimer Scientific will enhance the plant capacity for Nodax polyhydroxyalanoates.
Properties Of Packaging Biopolymer
Nodax PHA is a biopolymer created by microbial bacteria when organic oils are fermented and is a popular replacement for plastics in food packaging. Plastics originate from petroleum-based products.
Nodax PHA has been certified safe and also dissolves in salt water without leaving any toxic residue. It has earned OK Marine Biodegradable certification from Vinçotte International and the FDA also approved its biopolymers as fit for use in food products.
Pepsi's Green Agenda
PepsiCo's sustainability agenda has been unveiled with the intent to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain. The company aims to design and use 100 percent recoverable or recyclable packaging materials.
The goal is part of PepsiCo's initiative to integrate financial performance with sustainability in its business strategy.
The collaboration fast-tracks the transition of PepsiCo to packaging with biodegradables for snack food portfolio with Nodax PHA bioplastics.
"Danimer Scientific's partnership with PepsiCo marks a significant milestone as we continue to expand our biopolymer technology to provide innovative bioplastic solutions to a wider range of applications and products," said Stephen Croskrey, Danimer Scientific CEO.
Pepsi's New Flavors
Meanwhile, Pepsi sweetened its portfolio with two additional flavors, Black Currant Cola and Citrus Cola.
The cola portfolio, "1893 from the Makers of Pepsi-Cola" or 1893, is an all-natural, sugar-sweetened cola produced by PepsiCo. Launched in 2016, 1893 was inspired by recipes created in the year 1893 by PepsiCo founder Caleb Bradham.
The new flavors are expected to shore up the sagging sales of cola products as consumers have been distancing from high-calorie content products. One component of Pepsi's sales strategy involves adding new flavors to existing products to expand the bevy of new products.
Meanwhile, PepsiCo is looking to acquire Brazilian dairy company Fábrica de Produtos Alimentícios Vigor SA.
According to industry sources, PepsiCo has extended two bids for the Brazilian food maker. But the owner J&F Investimentos Ltd has not agreed to the bid value. Mexico's Grupo Lala SAB is also reportedly eyeing the asset.
