PepsiCo Launches Pilot Program To Reduce Carbon Footprint Of Tropicana

PepsiCo has launched a pilot program, which according to the company, could reduce lifecycle carbon footprint of Tropicana and have an impact on the broader agricultural landscape for orange growers and producers of other agricultural products.

When Tropicana measured the carbon footprint of its Pure Premium product's lifecycle, it discovered that the largest single source of carbon emissions – approximately 35% – was fertilizer use and application for the growing process. To tackle this issue, PepsiCo and its Florida suppliers are testing multiple creative approaches using reduced-carbon fertilizers.

Specifically, Tropicana, in tandem with one of its growers, SMR Farms in Bradenton, Florida, is launching a pilot study to test two alternative fertilizers to determine whether using either could significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with the agricultural production of oranges.

If successful, this change could reduce the total carbon footprint of Tropicana Pure Premium by as much as 15%, the company said. SMR Farms will test lower-carbon fertilizers produced by Yara International (Yara), a fertilizer producer, and ERTH Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Toronto-based Outlook Resources, which provides low-carbon fertility solutions.

Indra Nooyi, chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, said: This pilot program is an example of how PepsiCo is working hand-in-hand with our suppliers to find innovative ways to make our agricultural practices more environmentally sustainable.

“As a company that relies on the Earth's natural resources to make our products, we are keenly focused on reducing our carbon footprint wherever we can. If this test is successful, it could positively impact growing practices far beyond our business alone.

According to the company, Yara's fertilizer has a much lower environmental impact than other conventional fertilizers, because it is manufactured with proprietary technology that reduces nitrous oxide emissions by up to 90%. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, nitrous oxide has approximately 300 times the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide.

In addition, Outlook Resources' 'ERTHlizer' product achieves a lower-carbon footprint by using locally-sourced, carbon-neutral raw materials such as food waste and agriculture waste rather than natural gas, avoiding unnecessary carbon emissions from both natural gas and fertilizer transportation.

The new study will last up to five years to match the maturity cycle of orange trees. One outcome of the pilot could be blending the best components of each low-carbon fertilizer to create a superior hybrid solution with an even lower carbon footprint. PepsiCo said that it will monitor early indicators of success with researchers from the University of Florida so it can expand the effort's successes to other growers and reduce the carbon in their systems too.

Sandro Pippobello, director of premium offerings for Yara North America, said: We've been using our new environmental technology to produce lower-carbon fertilizers with great success. In addition to our fertilizer production technology, we're excited to bring our expertise in plant nutrition to a project that has the potential to both improve agricultural practices associated with orange production and make a positive contribution to growers' profitability.”

Errol Farr, president and CEO of Outlook Resources, said: PepsiCo's backing of this pilot study is a testament to the company's commitment to improving environmental performance across its supply chain.

“We are excited for the opportunity to test it on orange crops in partnership with PepsiCo and Tropicana. The time is right to provide a fertilizer solution that is more environmentally responsible, holds the line on costs for farmers – and produces great oranges.