PepsiCo, Nature Conservancy announce partnership

PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo and the Nature Conservancy will unite to help increase recycling and protect drinking water in a new five-year partnership called "Recycle for Nature." PepsiCo will expand the availability or recycling bins in the United States, beginning at gas stations and convenience stoers. According to a PepsiCo survey, recyling recepticles are available only 12% of the time at away-from-home locations.



"Most consumers want to recycle when they're away from home — there just aren't enough convenient places to do it," said Al Carey, CEO of PepsiCo Americas Beverages. "This is a huge opportunity that has been largely unaddressed until now. The easier we can make it to recycle, the more likely people are to recycle; and by giving consumers the added incentive of helping protect our watersheds, we can make an impact."



The partnership also will give consumers a chance to protect drinking water. By recycling with greater frequency, consumers help to drive efforts that protect drinking water in areas that supply drinking water to more than 35 million people. The goal is to save and restore 1 billion gallons of water over five years in rivers that include: Colorado River; Denver's Front Range Forests; the Verde River in Arizona; the Kings River in Northwest Arkansas; and the Cape Fear Rive in North Carolina.



"As our population and economies grow, already-stressed water sources will face unprecedented pressure," said Mark R. Tercek, president and CEO of the Nature Conservancy. "Protecting the rivers that provide clean, reliable water for people, and nature is one of the smartest investments that forward-thinking companies can make."