PepsiCo, Nestlé Waters & Woolworths: This Week in Food

PepsiCo: Investing £3.6m in Solar Power at Leicester Site

PepsiCo has unveiled plans for a substantial investment in solar energy at its Southern Region Distribution Centre (SRDC) in Leicester, marking a significant step in integrating sustainability across its operations.

The multi-million-pound project will support the production and distribution of the company's extensive food and beverage portfolio, which includes brands such as Walkers, Doritos, Pepsi-Cola and Mountain Dew.

Climate Minister Katie White welcomed the initiative, stating: "We welcome PepsiCo's decision to embrace our rooftop solar revolution in powering their Walkers crisps distribution centre in Leicester – adding extra crunch to our clean energy mission."

Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages' Water Stewardship Win

Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages (NW&PB) has become the first food and beverage company in the world to achieve 100% certification across all 39 bottling sites under the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard.

Two of these locations - Buxton in the UK and Tunuyán in Argentina – have reached the coveted Platinum level, highlighting the company’s leadership in responsible water management.

“We are pleased to share these significant milestones today on AWS certification and water regeneration,” says Muriel Lienau, CEO of Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages.

“Good water stewardship is part of our DNA and strong water resilience is a strategic imperative for our business – that’s why we look to collaborate everywhere we operate to ensure we address any shared water challenges, now and for the future. This is something we’ve been working on for decades."

How is Woolworths Group Targeting Food Security?

Woolworths Group operates as Australia's largest retailer, employing more than 190,000 team members across its network of supermarket brands.

The company's operations are driven by its commitment to creating better experiences together for a better tomorrow.

As part of this commitment, Woolworths has released an updated Sustainability Plan that outlines its approach to environmental protection and encouraging healthier food choices amongst consumers.

Ball & Beiersdorf: Is PCR Aluminium the Future of Packaging?

Aluminium has long ranked among the world’s most efficient circular materials, endlessly recyclable without any degradation in quality.

Recycling aluminium uses about 95% less energy than producing it from raw materials, and an estimated 75% of all aluminium ever made remains in use today. This extraordinary material efficiency is now advancing the next wave of sustainability in consumer goods.

As both brands and consumers refocus on closed-loop packaging and the circular economy in personal care, Beiersdorf and Ball Corporation have achieved a major milestone: transitioning all of Beiersdorf’s European aerosol cans to 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) aluminium.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners' Sustainable Procurement

As organisations adapt their operations to become more sustainable, EcoVadis is recognising those going above and beyond to make meaningful change  – including food and drink giant Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.

Across global markets, business priorities have shifted in recent years, with sustainability awareness and consumer expectations reshaping strategic direction. The companies highlighted by EcoVadis stand out for their excellence in sustainable procurement and their commitment to transparency across value chains.

Celebrating sustainable procurement

EcoVadis is an information services company committed to embedding sustainability intelligence into every business decision. Its trusted, actionable ratings help organisations of all sizes meet ESG regulations, reduce carbon emissions and build resilience.

Through its ratings, risk and carbon management tools and e-learning platform, EcoVadis supports sustainable growth that delivers positive global impact.