PepsiCo, one of the leaders in the food and beverage industry, takes a new step towards a sustainable future, as part of its strategic program pep+ (PepsiCo Positive), by adding 10 electric transport vehicles to its distribution fleet operated by GXO, the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, – 8 trucks with a capacity of 7.2 tons and 2 vans of 3.5 tons.
As a result, approximately one quarter of the distribution fleet operated by GXO for PepsiCo in the Bucharest-Ilfov area is now electrified, enabling an annual reduction of about 180 tons of CO2 emissions compared to diesel vehicles.
“Decarbonizing our value chain is a complex effort that requires a multidirectional approach and the adoption of multiple solutions. The initiatives we began in 2019, replacing 90% of PepsiCo’s own fleet with hybrid cars and, more recently, adding a second electric truck, have been important milestones in strengthening our commitment to sustainability and reducing our environmental impact. By integrating an additional 10 electric transport vehicles into the distribution fleet operated by GXO, we are continuing this journey and, together with our partner, leveraging the operational advantages they provide for the sustainable, efficient, and safe distribution of our products”, said Emilian Dinică, Supply Chain Director, PepsiCo East Balkans.
The new electric vehicles are equipped with high-capacity batteries, offering a range of up to 180 km for trucks and approximately 200 km for vans. For charging, PepsiCo installed two dedicated stations at its beverage plant in Dragomirești in 2023: one 50 kW DC and one 22 kW AC.
“Our ten-year partnership with PepsiCo in Romania has been a journey of continuous improvement driven by innovative technologies,” said Jean-Luc Bessade, Managing Director for Poland, Czech Republic, and Romania at GXO. “We’re proud to celebrate this decade of collaboration with a significant ESG milestone that advances our shared sustainability goals.”
To support value chain sustainability, PepsiCo has invested over 150 million dollars in Romania in projects such as: installing more than 3,000 photovoltaic panels at its sites; implementing automation solutions in its two plants – beverages in Dragomirești-Deal and snacks in Popești-Leordeni; as well as building a high-bay warehouse. These investments have contributed both to increasing production capacity and to improving energy efficiency, reducing energy and water consumption, lowering CO2 emissions, and decreasing plastic usage.
