In the last year alone, PepsiCo and its partners expanded access for more than 6 million people, which means it is on-track to exceeding its goal to support 25 million people with safe water access by 2025.
Local water
"The world faces a global water crisis, and we believe PepsiCo can make a difference by acting as good stewards of local water resources,” said Roberta Barbieri, VP, Global Sustainability, PepsiCo.
“As members of the Alliance for Water Stewardship, we're dedicated to increasing water use efficiency across our own value chain, and helping people gain access to safe water, which is a fundamental human right.”
She added PepsiCo now plans to increase its participation in and support of local water conservation work, focusing on high-water-risk geographies where action to protect this precious natural resource is urgent.
Around the world, 1 in 9 people struggle with access to safe and clean drinking water. Clean water shortages threaten the health and safety of communities, impacting hygiene and contributing to waterborne diseases, famine, migration and violence.
To address the issue, PepsiCo has set a number of goals to contribute to its Positive Water Impact, to enable long-term, sustainable water security for its business and others who depend on water availability.
As part of this effort, The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, works with non-profit organizations to expand access in some of the world's most water-stressed areas.
The PepsiCo Foundation has led partnerships with Water.org to provide access to affordable financing for water and sanitation improvement projects in India, the Inter-American Development Bank to better manage changes in water availability in Latin America, and the China Women's Development Foundation to expand safe water access in rural areas of China.
WaterAid
The PepsiCo Foundation is also working with WaterAid in southern India to bring clean water to more than 200,000 people by restoring wells, harvesting rainwater in schools and building piped water supply systems.
In a project in Sri City, 21 tap stands were installed in Ananthapuram village, which will be converted into permanent structures to establish a sustained water supply and proper waste water drainage.
The PepsiCo Foundation and WaterAid plan to bring similar projects to other high-water-risk communities with the intention that increasing access to clean water will positively impact the health, security and employment opportunities of local residents, particularly women, who otherwise have to walk long distances to collect water.
PepsiCo is also working to conserve and protect fresh water as part of its Positive Water Impact strategy. Through a partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), it is working with farmers, landowners, businesses, and communities throughout the US, Latin America and South Africa to implement efficient irrigation technology, protect upstream forests, and establish Water Funds to replenish at-risk watersheds.
In Latin America, PepsiCo and TNC are supporting watershed conservation projects that will enhance the supply and quality of water and improve the livelihoods of those in surrounding areas.
In 2018, the partnership replenished more than 76 million gallons of water to the watersheds in Guatemala City, São Paulo, Santo Domingo, Bogotá, Mexico City and Monterrey through conservation efforts across more than 990 acres.
