PepsiCo Portugal has launched a new project that will convert waste into renewable energy, at its snack food plant in Carregado.
The soda giant has invested in a biodigester that will transform organic waste into biogas, following a total investment of €7.5 million. The project will begin construction in April this year and is a first for PepsiCo in Southern Europe.
The initiative is part of the PepsiCo Positive (pep+) end-to-end transformation, which puts sustainability at the core of the company's business,
Reducing Gas Consumption
PepsiCo says that as well as achieving a 30% reduction in carbon emissions at the Carregado plant, the biodigester will also contribute to reduce gas consumption by allowing the facility to use the biogas produced during the process of anaerobic digestion.
The biogas is then used directly as fuel in the various stages of production, as well as for sanitising the production lines and to heat water for the shower rooms and cafeteria.
Additionally, the new biodigester will re-use the sludge produced at the plant's treatment plant and potato peelings, as well as other food waste that is unfit for consumption.
This waste is pre-treated and converted into a clean organic compound that is then turned into biogas through an anaerobic process. The biogas will be a direct substitute for natural gas and will be pre-treated in a purification plant that converts the biogas into biomethane.
'Strategy Provides A Clear Roadmap'
"PepsiCo's pep+ strategy provides a clear roadmap on how our business can sustainably grow and bring value to the planet and people," commented PepsiCo Europe’s chief sustainability officer, Katharina Stenholm.
"We are proud to start the year with announcing this new biodigester, a first for PepsiCo in Southern Europe. Now, we will accelerate collaboration with our partners to ensure we have the right infrastructure and eco-systems to deliver positive change across the value chain."
© 2023 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest A-brand news. Article by Robert McHugh. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
