Aug. 13, 2008 - PepsiCo U.K. has outlined a roadmap to sustainable packaging for two of its top-selling brands, pledging to downsize packaging weight and switch to greener materials within ten years.

In its latest sustainability report, PepsiCo has committed to using renewable, recyclable, or biodegradable packaging for all of its Walkers and Quaker Oats products by 2018.

Over the past five years, Pepsi has cut the amount of plastic in its Walkers Crisps multipacks by 14% and trimmed the cardboard used in Walkers cases by 16%. The company has pledged to reduce Walkers packaging weight by a further 10% by 2010.

Pepsi has also reduced the amount of corrugated cardboard used in its Quaker Oats cases by 30%, simply by switching to cases with open tops.

Both Walkers and Quaker brands are slated to roll out Forestry Stewardship Council paper-based packaging "where appropriate" within three years.

Pepsi says it has commissioned a series of lifecycle assessments to identify new ways to reduce the environmental impact of its packaging. For example, it is currently investigating reducing the seal depth of its standard Walkers Crisp bag - a move that, according to Pepsi, could save 2,800 tons of CO2 by the end of 2009.

In addition to reducing emissions from its packaging, Pepsi has pledged to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, aiming to make U.K. manufacturing and distribution operations run completely off renewable sources within 15 years.

Such efforts are being communicated to consumers via a new Carbon Reduction Label, which debuted on bags of Walkers Crisps in March.

"Carbon labeling is our primary priority and we believe it will become a key tool in raising the carbon literacy of the public and creating the demand for low-carbon products," Pepsi says in its report.

To read PepsiCo U.K.'s latest sustainability report, click here.