PepsiCo water stewardship goals moved closer to the company’s 2030 targets after it reported achieving 58% of its watershed replenishment objective, equivalent to approximately 23 billion litres of water returned, restored or replenished to local watersheds.
The update marks the first time PepsiCo has included direct operational data from both company-owned manufacturing facilities and franchise bottler-owned facilities located in high water-risk areas.
The company said high water-risk locations are identified using the World Resources Institute’s Aqueduct assessment tool, with franchise bottlers providing operational and replenishment data that is incorporated into PepsiCo’s water performance reporting.
Water efficiency improvements reported at high-risk facilities
Alongside progress on replenishment, PepsiCo reported improvements in water-use efficiency at manufacturing facilities located in high water-risk areas.
The company recorded water-use efficiency ratios of 1.6 litres of water per litre of beverage production and 2.0 litres of water per kilogram of convenient food production.
The figures form part of PepsiCo’s broader effort to reduce water consumption while improving resilience in water-stressed regions where PepsiCo-branded products are manufactured.
Why watershed replenishment matters
Watershed replenishment projects are designed to help restore water resources through activities such as ecosystem restoration, groundwater recharge, conservation programmes and water infrastructure improvements.
As industries face increasing pressure to manage water resources responsibly, replenishment initiatives are becoming a key component of corporate water stewardship strategies, particularly in regions experiencing water stress.
Water stewardship programmes can help improve long-term watershed resilience while supporting communities, ecosystems and industrial operations that depend on reliable water supplies.
Expanded reporting scope supports 2030 ambitions
PepsiCo previously achieved its 2025 replenishment target covering company-owned manufacturing facilities located in high water-risk watersheds.
Its 2030 ambitions now extend reporting and performance targets to include franchise bottler-owned manufacturing facilities operating in high water-risk areas.
Roberta Barbieri, Global Vice President, Sustainability – Climate and Water at PepsiCo, said:
“Watershed replenishment is a great example of our net water positive vision in action. We are focused on the watersheds where positive impact is most needed by replenishing back into local watersheds the volume of water used to produce our products in our direct manufacturing operations and those of our franchise bottlers located in high water risk areas.”
Collaboration with franchise bottlers
PepsiCo highlighted collaboration with Mexican franchise bottler GEPP as part of its approach to water stewardship.
The company said partnerships with local operators help support replenishment initiatives, operational improvements and region-specific water management strategies.
GEPP Sustainability & Transformation Director Geronimo Rotundo said collaboration with PepsiCo is helping accelerate replenishment efforts within the company’s operations in Mexico.
2030 water goals
PepsiCo’s stated 2030 water ambitions include:
- Achieving average water-use efficiency ratios of 1.4 litres per litre of beverage production at high water-risk facilities.
- Achieving average water-use efficiency ratios of 1.7 litres per kilogram of convenient food production at high water-risk facilities.
- Replenishing 100% of water used in high water-risk manufacturing facilities back into local watersheds.
- Providing safe water access to 100 million people.
Further information is available from PepsiCo.
