Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does PepsiCo, Inc. score?

PepsiCo reports full Scope 1 (3.3Mt) and Scope 2 (172Kt market-based; 1.8Mt location-based) for 2024, following GHG Protocol methodology with third-party verification. Multi-year tracking shows Scope 1 declining 5% from 2022 baseline and Scope 2 market-based extremely low due to renewable procurement. Granular breakdown by scope available via ESG Performance Metrics and SASB Index. The 18% reduction in combined S1&2 vs 2022 is verified.

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does PepsiCo, Inc. score?

PepsiCo quantifies full Scope 3 across FLAG (~24% of total) and E&I (~70%) categories totalling approximately 50Mt in 2024. Methodology is disclosed and follows GHG Protocol. Active supplier engagement programme with 62% of top GHG-emitting suppliers having committed to or set SBTi targets by 2024. Member of CGF Net Zero Coalition setting supplier expectations. Scope 3 E&I emissions down 12% from 2022 baseline. Not scoring higher because Scope 3 reductions are modest relative to scale and pace n

Emissions Trajectory: How does PepsiCo, Inc. score?

Absolute total emissions declined from ~61Mt (2022) to ~58Mt (2023) to ~53Mt (2024), showing genuine year-on-year absolute reductions. Scope 1&2 down 18% from 2022 baseline. However, PepsiCo weakened its S1&2 target from 75% to 50% reduction by 2030 and pushed net-zero from 2040 to 2050 in May 2025 — a significant rollback. Planet Tracker analysis (Jan 2025) warned PepsiCo was on track to miss SBTi targets by 58%. The direction is positive but the pace is insufficient for 1.5°C alignment, and th

Energy Source: How does PepsiCo, Inc. score?

PepsiCo sourced 89% of global electricity needs (~3,900 GWh) from renewable sources in 2024, with 39 countries at 100% renewable electricity. RE100 member with PPAs, on-site solar/wind, and unbundled RECs. However, a significant portion comes from unbundled EACs/RECs which have limited additionality — this caps the score. Scope 1 emissions (3.3Mt) remain substantial, indicating heavy reliance on fossil fuels (primarily natural gas) for thermal energy in manufacturing. Electrification pilots are

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does PepsiCo, Inc. score?

PepsiCo has assessed biodiversity dependencies through third-party analysis identifying key nature risks (maize, palm oil, milk, rapeseed, wheat). Forest 500 score of 4/5 for deforestation commitments. Founding member of Rimba Collective ($1B over 30 years for SE Asian forest protection). 3.5M acres under regenerative practices. Deforestation-free sourcing commitments with satellite monitoring via Satelligence. However, PepsiCo is not a TNFD early adopter and faced shareholder pressure from Norw

Resource Use & Waste: How does PepsiCo, Inc. score?

PepsiCo reduced virgin plastic in primary packaging by 5% in 2024 and achieved 15% recycled plastic content and 93% RRC packaging. However, the company abandoned its 20% absolute virgin plastic reduction goal and sunset its reusable packaging target in May 2025. Virgin plastic use had been increasing for four years prior to 2024 (up 11% in 2022 alone per NY AG lawsuit). The new 2% annual reduction target is less ambitious. Previous targets for 50% recycled content by 2030 weakened to 40% by 2035

Water Impact: How does PepsiCo, Inc. score?

PepsiCo withdrew 74M cubic meters of water in 2024, with detailed tracking by risk level. Replenished 24B liters through 60+ active watershed projects. CDP A-List for water security (top 0.5% of scored companies). Achieved 25% water-use efficiency improvement in high-risk areas two years early. Adopted Alliance for Water Stewardship standard across high-risk manufacturing. Innovative water capture from potatoes. Net Water Positive target for 2030 retained. Not scoring higher because absolute wat

Targets & Commitments: How does PepsiCo, Inc. score?

SBTi-validated near-term targets (50% S1&2 reduction by 2030, 42% S3 E&I, 30.3% FLAG, from 2022 baseline). Reduction-first approach with no reliance on offsets for 2030 targets. However, significant target weakening in May 2025: S1&2 target reduced from 75% to 50%, net-zero pushed from 2040 to 2050, reuse and virgin plastic absolute targets abandoned. While revised targets remain SBTi-validated and 1.5°C-aligned, the pattern of rollbacks undermines credibility. Deducting for the target weakening

Transparency & Accountability: How does PepsiCo, Inc. score?

Dedicated CSO (Jim Andrew, EVP level). Comprehensive ESG Reporting Suite including ESG Summary, Performance Metrics, SASB Index, CDP submissions, TCFD alignment, and Calculation Methodology. Third-party verification of environmental metrics. Board oversight of sustainability. Recognised externally for reporting quality (Reuters Sustainability Awards, Governance Intelligence). Transparent about challenges and target revisions. However, not mission-locked (not B Corp) and no evidence of executive

Controversies & Red Flags: How does PepsiCo, Inc. score?

Starting at 8. Multiple active lawsuits: NY AG plastic pollution suit (dismissed Oct 2024 but appealed Dec 2024), LA County greenwashing/plastic pollution suit (Oct 2024, ongoing), DC Plastic Pollution Coalition suit (April 2025, ongoing). ASA upheld ruling against Lipton Ice Tea recyclability claims. Allegations of misleading plastic recycling claims from multiple jurisdictions. Deduct 2 for multiple credible legal actions. PepsiCo is member of US Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, and N

PepsiCo, Inc. Sustainability Score: 34/100

Recently scored: Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, WPP

507 companies scored·4 score updates this week

PepsiCo, Inc.·Food & Beverage (non-meat)·Purchase, New York, United States·Founded 1965·Last verified 21 April 2026

out of 100

Below expectationsPending Review-4 since last review

PepsiCo reports comprehensive climate and water metrics with third-party verification, yet weakened major targets in May 2025—pushing net-zero to 2050 and cutting its 2030 emissions reduction from 75% to 50%. Multiple active lawsuits allege plastic-recycling greenwashing. The company meets disclosure standards but credibility is undermined by rollbacks and unresolved legal allegations.

No challenges currently filed

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale

Industry base impact

Food & Beverage (non-meat) sector ceiling.

50 / 100

Performance score

Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.

60 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 50) + (0.7 × 60) = 57.0

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.6

Final score

Rounded. Below expectations.

34 / 100

The ten questions

Where PepsiCo, Inc. is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Resource Use & Waste and Controversies & Red Flags (4/10, 5/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

18 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

[1]Self-reported

PepsiCo ESG Topics: Climate Change

Ongoing

Q1Q2Q4

Every score shows its working.

Where PepsiCo, Inc. is strong, and where it isn't.

Every document used, listed.

Where PepsiCo, Inc. sits among food & beverage (non-meat) peers.

PepsiCo, Inc.'s score over time.

This score is not currently being contested.

Related companies worth a look.

We'll let you know when the score moves.

Which companies moved this week, and why.