Image credit: pepsico.com
PepsiCo has pledged to significantly reduce the calorie count of its beverages by 2025 in response to changing consumer and societal needs.
Image credit: pepsico.com
The beverage giant has set specific targets to reduce the use of sugar, saturated fat and sodium levels in its product portfolio, in line with the latest dietary guidelines of the World Health Organisation.
The company said that two-thirds of its global beverage portfolio will have 100 or fewer calories by 2025, and that at least three-quarters of its products will contain no more than 1.1 grams of saturated fat per 100 calories.
Also, at least three-quarters of its beverage portfolio will not exceed 1.3 milligrams of sodium per calorie.
“PepsiCo’s journey is far from complete, and our new goals are designed to build on our progress and broaden our efforts,” said  PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi.
She said these initiatives continue the company’s  decade-long commitment to delivering Performance with Purpose, a pioneering vision launched in 2006 rooted in the fundamental belief that business success is inextricably linked to the sustainability of the world we share.
“The first ten years of PepsiCo’s Performance with Purpose journey have demonstrated what is possible when a company does well by also doing good. We have created significant shareholder value, while taking important steps to address environmental, health and social priorities all around the world,” she continued.
“We have mapped our plans against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and we believe the steps we are taking will help lift PepsiCo to even greater heights in the years ahead. Companies like PepsiCo have a tremendous opportunity – as well as a responsibility – to not only make a profit, but to do so in a way that makes a difference in the world.”
In addition to cutting sugar from its drinks, Pepsi has also committed to improve the water-use efficiency of its direct manufacturing operations by 25% by 2025, on top of the 25% improvement achieved since 2006.
