PepsiCo garners EPA's Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award

RP news wires
Tags: green manufacturing, energy management

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded PepsiCo a 2010 Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting our environment through energy efficiency. PepsiCo's accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on March 18.

PepsiCo, an Energy Star partner since 2004, is being honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency for the fourth consecutive year, and for the third time with "Sustained Excellence." PepsiCo is continually working to address the issue of climate change, from scaling up the company's use of renewable fuel sources to reducing energy consumption. In May 2008, PepsiCo introduced new Sustainable Engineering Guidelines that apply to all new construction and major reengineering projects worldwide. PepsiCo also significantly expanded its impact through an outreach program that encouraged more than 90 PepsiCo suppliers to join Energy Star and focus on improving energy efficiency. Across the U.S., top companies and organizations are leading the way toward a more energy-efficient future through participation in Energy Star.

Last year alone Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $17 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those emitted by 30 million vehicles.

"This award honors the commitment of PepsiCo personnel everywhere who drive the improvement in energy efficiency across all of our operations," said Rob Schasel, director of energy and utilities at PepsiCo. "As a company, we look for simple and innovative ways to drive sustainability through our business -- from finding the most efficient way to light our buildings to deploying alternative energy supplies for our operations. We view our Energy Star partnership as an important way to address climate change."

PepsiCo's mission to reduce energy consumption is part of the company's commitment to sustainable growth, defined as Performance with Purpose. PepsiCo is on track to achieve the following time-bound goals: reductions in water consumption by 20 percent, electricity consumption by 20 percent, and fuel consumption by 25 percent per unit of production by 2015 as compared to 2006.

The 2010 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches, and showing others what can be achieved through energy efficiency. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the Energy Star program including energy-efficient products, services, new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Award winners are selected from more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the Energy Star program.

"EPA is recognizing PepsiCo with our highest Energy Star award – the 2010 Sustained Excellence Award," said Gina McCarthy, EPA assistant administrator for air and radiation. "PepsiCo's continued leadership and commitment to energy efficiency is a testament to what we can accomplish to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our global environment."