PepsiCo Cuts Virgin Plastic Use 6%, Boosts Recycled Content

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): PepsiCo increased the use of recycled plastic in its packaging and reduced its reliance on virgin plastic during 2025, according to the company’s latest ESG report.

The report noted that recycled plastic accounted for 18% of its packaging in key markets last year. At the same time, it reduced the absolute amount of virgin plastic used in primary packaging by 6% from 2024. PepsiCo reported using about 2 million tonnes of plastic across its key packaging markets.

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The company targets to have 94% of its primary and secondary packaging designed to be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2030. Meanwhile, PepsiCo said progress will depend not only on its own operations but also on improvements in recycling infrastructure and wider circular-economy systems. Regulatory changes and differences in recycling infrastructure across countries are likely to play key roles.

PepsiCo’s latest figures build on progress reported for 2024, when the company said recycled plastic use increased 15% and virgin plastic packaging declined 5% compared with 2023. It also reported that 93% of packaging in its key markets met its reusable, recyclable or compostable criteria.

The report highlights the company’s commitment to invest in deposit return systems, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes and circular economy infrastructure.