As an initiative within PepsiCo’s pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) sustainable packaging endeavor, aimed at preventing packaging from turning into waste, PepsiCo has taken the pioneering step among beverage companies by pledging to introduce paper-based alternatives for plastic rings used in multipacks across North America. This shift marks a significant move toward environmentally friendly solutions. PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA) has unveiled innovative paperboard designs, set to launch gradually in different regions across the United States starting later this year. This announcement further extends the progress already underway in Canada, where the transition to paperboard packaging is already in motion.

PepsiCo is set to replace conventional plastic rings in its multipacks with paperboard wraps and clips, a shift towards more environmentally conscious packaging. This transition will encompass a range of brands, including Pepsi, Pepsi Zero, MTN DEW, Starry, Gatorade, and others. Even 7Up in Canada will adopt the new approach. The updated packaging not only boasts a consumer-friendly branded design but also facilitates straightforward shelf implementation for customers. Crafted from recycled materials, the packaging remains recyclable, aligning with PepsiCo’s commitment to sustainable practices.

This advancement will propel PepsiCo’s ambitious pep+ objectives, aiming to achieve a 50% reduction in virgin plastic sourced from nonrenewable materials per serving across our worldwide beverage and convenient foods assortment by 2030.1 As a consequence of this shift, PepsiCo is poised to eliminate countless pounds of plastic from its North American packaging in the forthcoming years, all the while sustaining the drive for packaging circularity.