The PepsiCo beverage plant in Ech谩varri (脕lava), where KAS and Pepsi are produced, among others, will become the first to achieve net zero emissions, both in Spain and globally within the company. This milestone will be reached by 2025, advancing ahead of PepsiCo’s global objectives, which aim for complete decarbonization of the company by 2040, as well as a 75% reduction in emissions across all operations by 2030. This initiative is part of PepsiCo’s sustainability strategy, PepsiCo Positive (pep+), and is being carried out as the Basque plant celebrates its 50th anniversary.聽
The project involves replacing gas with electricity to achieve 100% electrification of the facilities. In this way, the equivalent of 1834 tons of CO2 will be eliminated to achieve zero emissions by 2025. Specific measures such as switching to electric boilers, the installation of four new transformers, the implementation of a new distribution network for superheated water with insulation to minimise heat loss, and the installation of 6,000 m2 of solar panels at the plant will enable this radical transformation.
Continued Investments
The project to achieve net zero emissions has an investment of 5 million euros. To achieve this, the initiative has been presented to the first call for the PERTE industrial decarbonization program, within the recovery, transformation, and resilience plan of the Government of Spain for the distribution of European Next Generation funds.聽
The budget for the complete electrification of the Ech谩varri facilities adds to PepsiCo’s continued commitment to this soft drink plant, which has seen an investment of more than 35 million euros in the past six years, despite the impact of the pandemic. Of these, 13 million euros have been allocated to the can line, bottles made from 100% recycled plastic, and the elimination of rings, while 2.5 million euros have been invested in improving the returnable glass bottle line, as part of the overall goal of reducing emissions.
