PepsiCo

Access to freshwater is central to stable ecosystems and communities. Although water is a finite and scarce resource, it is often mismanaged. With climate change increasing the frequency of extreme weather and periods of drought, it has never been more important that freshwater is managed sustainably for people and nature.

The Nature Conservancy and PepsiCo are collaborating to conserve and protect at-risk watersheds around the world to safeguard freshwater. Together, we are working directly with farmers, landowners, businesses and communities to implement sustainable water management practices and water-saving projects that fit the regions’ needs. By implementing place-based solutions with those who know the ecosystems best, we are increasing the chances of long-term success and more water for all. Our work together touches down across:

• The United States - Across the Colorado River Basin, PepsiCo has supported farmers’ efforts to reduce their water consumption by providing funding for more efficient irrigation systems, crop conversions to lower water use crops like barley and partial fallowing of fields. In Colorado, PepsiCo has supported TNC’s efforts to sustainably manage forests to prevent wildfire risk and protect Denver’s water supply. In Texas and Utah, PepsiCo has helped protect lands and rivers that are critical to watershed and aquifer health. In Florida, PepsiCo has helped retrofit stormwater retention ponds through TNC’s Brightstorm program, which uses on-site sensors, actively controlled outflow valves and weather forecasting to increase the average time water can be held before discharge and the rate at which it leaves the ponds. Increased time allows for pollutants to settle, resulting in improved water quality, and reducing the rate helps protect natural buffers and habitat downstream.
• Latin America - In Mexico, PepsiCo is supporting upgrades and maintenance of an existing municipal wastewater treatment system and 200-acre treatment wetland. The effluent is delivered at higher quality to the Hardy River, a tributary to the Colorado River, benefitting the Colorado River estuary. The wetlands provide habitat for migratory waterfowl and marsh birds and are a potential destination for education and recreation groups.  
• South Africa - PepsiCo is supporting the Greater Cape Town Water Fund. Launched in 2018, the Fund is helping restore natural ecosystems by employing teams of local women to remove non-native plants that are taking excessive amounts of moisture from the ground and preventing water from reaching an aquifer that is critical to the city’s water supply. In addition to helping prevent “Day Zero” in Cape Town, the Fund provides employment and economic opportunities for women in South Africa.

In addition to supporting these water conservation efforts, PepsiCo is a member of the Midwest Row Crop Collaborative, a group of companies and NGOs dedicated to removing barriers to the adoption of good farming practices that can benefit the environment; the Water Resilience Coalition, an industry-driven, CEO-led initiative aiming to elevate the mounting crisis of global water stress and to preserve the world’s freshwater resources through collective action in water-stressed basins; and the California Water Action Collaborative, a network for diverse stakeholders to come together and pursue collective action projects that will improve water security in California for people, business, agriculture and nature.