As part of PepsiCo South Africa’s PepsiCo Positive agenda, the food and beverage company has partnered with key stakeholders to repair water leaks in several municipalities across the country.
The agenda, according to a statement released by PepsiCo, is a “strategic end-to-end transformation with sustainability at the center of how the company will create growth and value by inspiring positive change for the planet and its people.”
According to PepsiCo, the project aims to reduce water losses at schools and municipal water networks in the Mangaung, Mogalakwena, Polokwane, Madibeng, and Dawid Kruiper Municipalities.
Corporate Affairs Director: Operations, Nico Moloto, said they are acutely aware of the critical role water plays in the food system and it is their vision that wherever PepsiCo operates, water resources will be in a better state because of their presence. “This initiative is designed to enable long-term, sustainable water security for the business and local communities,” he said.
“The target volume of annual water loss reduction through this project is equal to, or higher than the annual water usage of the PepsiCo facilities within the respective municipalities. So, this project will help to offset the water use at our operations in these areas,” he added.
With aims to be Net Water Positive by 2030, PepsiCo plans to achieve best-in-class water use “in 100% of its manufacturing sites at high-water risk sites, replenishing back into local watersheds more than 100% of the water it uses, and fully adopting the Alliance for Water Stewardship Standard”.
The company will collaborate with third parties, communities, NGOs, and government institutions “to continue investing in action, innovation, and partnerships that will enable us all to realise a more sustainable future,” Moloto concluded.
Compiled by Gypseenia Lion
