PepsiCo Leads Coca-Cola in Sustainability Rankings

The latest Dow Jones Sustainability Index saw PepsiCo named as leader of the food and beverage sector, while Coca-Cola lost its place altogether. Ben Cooper reports on the reactions of the two companies and examines the growing importance of sustainability issues, such as water use and packaging, to soft drinks companies.

Having given sustainability such prominence, PepsiCo will have derived considerable satisfaction from being named leader in the food and beverages sector of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) last month.   Its high achievement may have been all the more sweet given that The Coca-Cola Co was among some high-profile names to be dropped from the DJSI this year.   Bold sustainability aspirations – buffed up with plenty of PR spin – are fairly commonplace in today’s corporate world, and the media – not to mention the public – are ready for it. External recognition of progress is therefore extremely valuable. Indeed, when Coca-Cola made the DJSI for the first time two years ago, it said the index was “a testament” to its sustainability efforts and “exemplified leadership in sustainability”. To continue reading about PepsiCo’s high ranking in the DJSI on just-drinks.com, click here.     About PepsiCo 
PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 19 different product lines that generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales each. Our main businesses -- Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, and Pepsi Cola -- also make hundreds of other enjoyable foods and beverages that are respected household names throughout the world. With net revenues of approximately $60 billion, PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment, including by conserving energy and water usage, and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support, and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.   PEPSI17974