PepsiCo, one of the leaders in the food and beverage industry, announces the completion of its latest green energy project through the integration of photovoltaic panels in its three sites in Romania, namely in Dragomirești, Popești-Leordeni and Covasna. The project supports PepsiCo Positive’s (pep+) decarbonization goals as PepsiCo aims to reach net-zero by 2040 and represents a local investment of $2.1 million in more than 3,000 solar panels, with a combined installed capacity of 1,700 kWp and with a potential to generate over 1,300 MWh of green electricity per year.
It is estimated that the use of these photovoltaic panels will lead to an annual reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 500 tons, which is equivalent to the benefit of planting more than 15,000 trees.
PepsiCo is evaluating the possibility of installing photovoltaic panels in all the company’s buildings in Romania.
“The installation of photovoltaic panels in our factories in Romania is an important step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as part of our pep+ goals and our commitment to integrate sustainability into every aspect of our operations. In addition to the fact that it determines net-zero productivity, the investment in photovoltaic panels also brings economic advantages. Our own production of electricity allows us to reduce costs compared to purchasing from the grid,” said Daniel Drăgușin, East Balkans Supply Chain Director, PepsiCo.
In terms of its fleet, PepsiCo reached a percentage of 80% hybrid vehicles at the end of last year.
PepsiCo has been operating and investing in Romania for over 30 years. In the last decade, the company directly invested 320 million dollars in Romania. For example, the new automated production line installed in 2023 in the beverage factory now produces up to 1 million bottles per day, while simultaneously using 30% less energy than the old conventional line.
PepsiCo has generated revenue of more than $91 billion in 2023, driven by a food and beverage portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s portfolio is comprised of flavorful food and beverage products, including iconic brands that each generate more than $1 billion in retail sales annually.
