PepsiCo program to reduce Tropicana´s carbon footprint

March 18 -- A new program put in place by PepsiCo will reduce the carbon footprint of its Tropicana orange juice products, the company said.

The company partnered with the Carbon Trust to measure the carbon footprint of Tropicana´s Pure Premium product´s lifecycle. About 35% of the carbon emissions over the lifecycle of the product were the result fertilizer use and application for the growing process, PepsiCo said.

To begin eliminating carbon emissions, the company and its Florida suppliers are looking at ways to fertilize orange crops using lower-carbon fertilizers. The first five-year trials will be done at SMR Farms in Bradenton, Fla., testing two alternative fertilizers to determine whether using either could significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with the agricultural production of oranges.

The company hopes to achieve a 15% reduction in the orange juice´s carbon footprint through the program, PepsiCo said.

"This pilot program is an example of how PepsiCo is working hand-in-hand with our suppliers to find innovative ways to make our agricultural practices more environmentally sustainable," said Indra Nooyi, chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. "As a company that relies on the Earth´s natural resources to make our products, we are keenly focused on reducing our carbon footprint wherever we can. If this test is successful, it could positively impact growing practices far beyond our business alone."

The company is also trying to cut fuel usage in transportation by 15% by using fuel efficiency technologies.

Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Amanda Smith-Teutsch at 330-865-6166 or asmith-teutsch@crain.com