PepsiCo installs electric ovens in £58 million Leicester upgrade to cut emissions

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🗞️ Driving the news: PepsiCo has installed three electric ovens at its Leicester manufacturing facility as part of a £58 million upgrade to reduce emissions and modernise operations
• Two new electric ovens and one retrofitted gas-to-electric unit, all powered by renewable electricity, are expected to cut the site’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1,500 tonnes
• This is part of a wider effort to consolidate production and improve efficiency across the company’s UK supply chain

🔭 The context: This Leicester upgrade is the latest in a series of sustainability-focused investments across PepsiCo’s six UK sites, including similar initiatives in Coventry and Brigg
• Since 2020, the company has invested £140 million into decarbonising its British operations
• Globally, PepsiCo is targeting net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2040, with interim goals of reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 75% and Scope 3 by 40% by 2030, using 2015 as a baseline

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: By replacing gas ovens with electric ones powered by renewables, PepsiCo is addressing a major emissions source in food manufacturing
• The shift not only lowers direct emissions but also cuts transport-related emissions by 915 tonnes annually through production centralisation
• In parallel, the company's regenerative agriculture initiative in Latin America reflects a broader commitment to reducing Scope 3 emissions, which are notoriously difficult to tackle but crucial for net-zero alignment

⏭️ What's next: PepsiCo plans to scale its regenerative agriculture efforts, beginning with 700 hectares of potato fields and expanding to other crops and regions
• The company will also likely continue facility upgrades across its global manufacturing footprint, balancing emissions cuts with increased production efficiency
• Stakeholders can expect ongoing reporting as the company progresses toward its 2030 and 2040 climate targets

💬 One quote: “With a brand-new production line, better facilities for our teams, and now these more sustainable ovens, we’ve been able to transform our home in Leicester and secure its future growth,” —  Richard Clarke, PepsiCo UK and Ireland’s Manufacturing Director.

📈 One stat: PepsiCo’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions dropped by 33% as of 2023, while Scope 3 emissions fell by 1%, according to the company’s latest ESG report

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