Environmental Leader

PepsiCo has opened a plant in Chongqing, China which the company says is the first beverage plant ever built in China – and the first plant of any kind in the industrial center of Chongqing – to comply with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards.

An environmental management system monitors water and energy use on every production line and every piece of individual equipment in real time. The facility is designed to use 22% less water and 23% less energy than the average PepsiCo plant in China. To save water, the plant utilizes a high-pressure cleaning system, water-free conveyor belt lubricant and water-saving fixtures. Plant associates re-use water for landscaping and general cleaning instead of using potable water.

To save energy, 75% of the plant’s indoor areas feature natural lighting, including a skylight in the packing area and warehouse. A roof garden insulates the office building and saves energy for cooling and heating.

The new plant is expected to help PepsiCo annually reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3,100 tons; water usage by 100,000 tons; and overall energy use by four million kilowatt hours compared to the former Chongqing plant.

PepsiCo plans to fund a variety of major capital programs to grow its manufacturing capacity in China, particularly in interior and western areas. Over the next two years, the company expects to open five new beverage manufacturing.