PepsiCo launches paper-based beverage packaging to replace plastic rings in North America

29 Aug 2023 --- PepsiCo Beverages North America will switch the plastic rings that hold packs of beverages together with a paper-based solution. This move is part of the company’s PepsiCo Positive (pep+) initiative. The paperboard is made from recycled materials and is recyclable.

Pep+ is a part of the F&B giant’s “sustainable packaging journey to ensure packaging never becomes waste.” PepsiCo says it is “the first” beverage company to commit to a North American rollout of paper-based solutions to replace plastic rings across multipacks that traditionally use plastic rings. 

The new paperboard designs will be introduced in a phased, regional approach in the US later this year. The switch follows PepsiCo’s current Canadian transition to paperboard.

As a result of the transition, PepsiCo says it will eliminate millions of pounds of plastics from its packaging in North America over the coming years while “continuing to enable packaging circularity.”

“Consumer-friendly” design
PepsiCo is trying to make a conversion to “more sustainable packaging.” The paper-based packaging will be implemented in the US on brands like Pepsi, Pepsi Zero, Mountain Dew, Starry and Gatorade, as well as 7Up in Canada.

PepsiCo switches its plastic rings to paperboard packaging.The new packaging is “easy to implement on the shelf” for customers while having a “consumer-friendly” branded design.

The innovation is part of  PepsiCo’s drive toward the goals of its pep+ to reduce virgin plastic from nonrenewable sources across its global beverage and convenience foods portfolio by 50% by 2030.

PepsiCo changes
PepsiCo aims to double the percentage of reusable beverage packs – from 10% to 20% – by 2030 as part of its pep+ strategy. The company’s global packaging goal is aligned with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s “Reuse – Rethinking Packaging” framework, under which PepsiCo will pursue four approaches to drive reusability.

The beverage supplier intends to expand its SodaStream business at home and workplaces through SodaStream Professional. It will also build out its refillable plastic and glass bottle offerings in partnership with PepsiCo bottlers. Furthermore, PepsiCo plans to expand its fountain drinks business with reusable cups and accelerate growth in powders and concentrates.

PepsiCo has released a refillable glass bottle for all its brands. Simonds Farsons Cisk, partners of PepsiCo and bottlers of the Pepsi-Cola portfolio, launched the single-serve glass bottle for the brands Pepsi-Cola and Pepsi Max, 7up and 7up Free and Mirinda.

However, according to 2022 Break Free From Plastic’s latest global brand audit report, PepsiCo is among the top three biggest offenders of plastic pollution.

By Sabine Waldeck