PepsiCo Europe Supports Digital Start-Ups

PepsiCo Europe Supports Digital Start-Ups PepsiCo announced that it will collaborate with innovative start-up companies to conduct pilot applications of groundbreaking technologies aimed at improving its supply chain in Europe and delivering sustainability solutions. Six successful start-ups were selected for a support program focused on building a start-up community that will bring emerging technologies to the forefront. Over the coming year, PepsiCo plans to increase the number of collaborations as part of the ongoing project. The program was created with the goal of leveraging the power of digital solutions and is managed by the PepsiCo Labs team, which acts as one of the key drivers in the world of emerging technology. The team identifies and develops partnerships with pioneering technology start-ups that create new solutions to support development, realize shared potential, and drive positive business growth. After analyzing test results, PepsiCo aims to scale successful technologies in its supply chain from 2023 onward and position itself at the forefront of the latest technologies that solve compelling, real-world problems. Katharina Stenholm, Head of Sustainability at PepsiCo Europe, stated: "As PepsiCo, we believe in the value that a digital future will bring to accelerate positive change for our people and our planet. We are aware of our responsibility to use resources efficiently and reduce our overall emissions, but we cannot do this alone. By embracing smart partnerships through PepsiCo Labs, we can pave the way for groundbreaking solutions and do our part in scaling technological innovation. This forms part of our commitment to overcoming sustainability challenges in our supply chain and advancing the PepsiCo Positive vision." Pilot applications will be conducted through trials focusing on four main areas across Europe, including Turkey, Belgium and Portugal: • Efficiency and automation In Turkey, Pulse Industrial and BrenPower monitors, which detect failures in steam traps through an artificial intelligence system, will be tested. These technologies aim to increase overall efficiency by reducing steam losses and lower the carbon impact resulting from PepsiCo facilities. • Sustainable Cleaning and Hygiene Technology In Portugal, Ozo Innovations will be tested to provide smarter and safer hygiene for production facilities using advanced electrochemical technology. Ozo's "elocube" product converts cold water and salt into a powerful cleaning and disinfectant solution through electrolysis. If tests are successful, this technology is expected to revolutionize cleaning processes by reducing chemical, water and energy consumption. • Recycling Using a patented conversion process, UBQ Materials converts unclassified household waste (including all organic waste and non-recyclable plastics) into a biobased thermoplastic material with a climate-positive footprint. PepsiCo will test this new material on Lay's display stands across Turkey to further enhance circularity potential. Security Matters has developed an invisible 'marker' system. The solution provides physical and digital tracking capabilities for identifying, tracking and classifying packaging waste recorded in a blockchain system. PepsiCo will test this technology to track the closed-loop recycling process, serve its sustainability commitments, and improve waste classification. • Water recovery The Elateq solution, which will be tested in Belgium, enables electrochemical treatment of wastewater to remove pathogens, organic and inorganic contaminants using less energy. David Schwartz, Vice President of PepsiCo Labs, stated: "PepsiCo Labs was established to take PepsiCo into the future. Here, we aim to lead technological innovation by integrating start-up solutions into our business on a global scale. It is a privilege for us to collaborate with six exciting and innovative start-ups because they are developing groundbreaking solutions that address sustainability challenges facing the world. As we continue to position sustainability and innovation at the center of our business, we hope that working with start-ups will accelerate the growth of these promising initiatives." To date, PepsiCo Labs has scaled more than 30 new ventures in over 200 countries, including WINT technology, which has successfully created a positive water impact within the supply chain. WINT technology uses artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to prevent water leaks in PepsiCo facilities through digital monitors that collect water flow data. This data is then analyzed through pattern matching and machine learning. PepsiCo is estimated to have reduced its annual water consumption by approximately 20-25 percent thanks to this technology. The project is being carried out in alignment with the expanded PepsiCo Positive (pep+) targets announced last year and indicating an end-to-end transformation approach centered on sustainability and human capital. The work, in accordance with PepsiCo's ESG Summary shared in July 2022, forms part of the goal to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 75 percent by 2030. Implementing solutions to address climate change forms an integral part of PepsiCo's future, as well as that of its customers, consumers, and the planet. Today's announcement regarding PepsiCo's objective to decarbonize its entire value chain serves its new and ambitious commitment to reach net zero by 2040 (ten years ahead of what is stated in the Paris Agreement). Haggai Alon, CEO of Security Matters, stated: "As SMX, we are proud to be selected to work with PepsiCo Labs to identify, track and classify packaging waste. We look forward to continuing our successful relationship and seeing how SMX's groundbreaking technology enables PepsiCo Labs to make packaging waste recycling processes more innovative, sustainable and tangible. The solution will 'mark' plastics at the initial stage as well as in the recycling process and at sorting facilities, improve classification capabilities, and enable higher rates of plastic recycling." Mark Poole, CEO of Ozo Innovations Ltd, made the following statement: "Global climate change issues demand urgent responses, and the Ozo team remains committed to delivering safe, effective and innovative hygiene solutions that achieve carbon net zero targets without compromising food safety. We are proud to collaborate with PepsiCo and are excited to work with the PepsiCo Labs team and the team in Portugal to successfully manage the sustainability benefits that the eloclear solution will deliver." Following an initial pilot study conducted with PepsiCo's logistics team earlier this year, Albert Douer, Co-CEO and President of UBQ Materials, stated that they are eager to expand the application of the developed material to new products and markets. "PepsiCo Labs plays a critical role in supporting the pep+ vision by prioritizing innovative solutions that minimize the company's impact on the planet. By including UBQ™ in additional supply chain applications, PepsiCo is recycling waste, reducing its carbon footprint, and strengthening the circular economy," he said.