Now more than ever, consumers are acutely aware of the interconnected nature of our global food system - its impact on our planet, its support for our communities and its ability to provide nourishment for billions of people across the world.
Unfortunately, the bonds holding this delicate ecosystem together are beginning to fray right in front of our eyes. First of all, climate change is endangering our natural resources. By one estimate, every degree of warming could reduce staple crop yields by 10%. What used to be hundred-year weather events are now happening every other year, and according to the UN, more than half the planet’s fertile topsoil is now degraded. This is reducing the soil’s potential to grow food and sequester carbon, increasing our vulnerability to extreme weather events, and impacting water quality and biodiversity. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these challenges and highlighted the inequalities that underlie much of our food system and our society.
Such drastic shifts not only threaten the health of our planet and communities, they also present challenges for our business. As a company that sources crops from over 7 million acres of farmland in 60 different countries, PepsiCo has deep roots in the global food system. At the same time, our consumers are demanding new products that are more sustainable and made with minimal impact on the environment.
That is why we are working to transform the way we create shared value by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for the planet and people. This will make us a Better company, with purpose more deeply integrated into our business strategy. It will also make us Faster and Stronger, enabling accelerated growth and continued investment in our people, business and communities. And we hope it will make us an example, for our partners and our peers.
– Ramon Laguarta, Chairman & CEO
Links To Additional Sustainability Information