Global water prize awarded to food and beverage company

Global drink manufacturing giant PepsiCo has been named the recipient of the 2012 Stockholm Industry Water Award for conserving 16 billion litres of water in 2011.

The Stockholm Industry Water Award jury recognised PepsiCo’s efforts to increase water efficiency. The company made the water savings through water saving equipment and technologies, creative recycling and re-use, and by deploying a water management system throughout its manufacturing facilities.

PepsiCo’s water also assisted farmers in growing more water efficient crops, implementing better agricultural practices and irrigation techniques, and by supporting watershed management initiatives, PepsiCo has saved water all along its agricultural supply chain.

In 2009, PepsiCo was among the first large companies in the world to recognise and to formally adopt the human right to water. The company has established numerous public-private partnerships and collaborations, which have increased access to safe water and sanitation services around the globe.

Rich Delaney, senior vice president of operations for PepsiCo, said: "As a global food and beverage company, we take a comprehensive approach to water stewardship throughout our supply chain and operations. We are proud to work with a variety of exceptional partners that help us reach aggressive water stewardship goals.”

PepsiCo will receive the Stockholm Industry Water Award on August 28 at a ceremony during the World Water Week in Stockholm.

Last year Professor Steven Carpenter won the Stockholm Water Prize for his research on trophic cascades (see Water & Wastewater International story).

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