Purchase, NY — PepsiCo Inc., one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, has achieved a major milestone in its nutrition and sustainability journey. The company announced it reached several of its key nutrition targets ahead of schedule, signaling a bold step forward in reshaping its product portfolio for a healthier future.
In its 2024 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Summary, released on August 28, PepsiCo revealed it has successfully met its 2025 nutrition goals early. These include reducing added sugars in beverages, cutting sodium in convenient foods, and lowering saturated fat levels across its best-selling brands. The announcement comes under the umbrella of pep+ (PepsiCo Positive), the company’s global sustainability and transformation framework launched in 2021.
A Head Start on 2025 Nutrition Goals
PepsiCo had set ambitious nutrition targets for 2025. Yet by the close of 2024, the company confirmed that:
- 67% of its beverage portfolio contained fewer than 100 calories from added sugars per 12-ounce serving.
- 77% of its convenient foods portfolio did not exceed 1.3 mg of sodium per calorie, surpassing its sodium reduction goal.
- 81% of its convenient foods portfolio stayed under 1.1 grams of saturated fat per 100 calories, exceeding the original 75% benchmark.
These results show not only the company’s rapid progress but also its determination to stay ahead of industry expectations. PepsiCo first reached its saturated fat reduction goal back in 2021 and has since maintained steady improvements.
The “Positive Choices” Framework
At the heart of PepsiCo’s strategy lies its Positive Choices pillar, part of the broader pep+ platform. This initiative focuses on reformulating products to deliver better nutrition while still appealing to consumer tastes.
“We’re continuing to evolve the nutritional profile of our best-selling brands,” PepsiCo noted in its ESG Summary. “Our Positive Choices goals accelerate reductions in added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat while increasing the presence of diverse ingredients in our foods.”
In other words, PepsiCo is not only cutting back on less desirable nutrients but also actively expanding its use of wholesome ingredients such as legumes, whole grains, fruits, nuts, seeds, and plant-based proteins. This dual approach supports both better health outcomes for consumers and a more sustainable food system.
Looking Toward 2030 Goals
PepsiCo isn’t stopping with early wins. In November 2023, the company outlined new nutrition goals for 2030, including:
- Ensuring at least 75% of its convenient foods portfolio meets or falls below sodium category targets.
- Delivering 145 billion portions of diverse ingredients annually, with each portion providing about 10% of the recommended daily intake.
Progress is already visible. By the end of 2024, 44% of PepsiCo’s convenient foods lineup met sodium targets (up from 36% the previous year), while the company delivered 69 billion servings of diverse ingredients, slightly above its 2023 performance.
Though growth in diverse ingredients was modest year-over-year, PepsiCo emphasized its continued commitment. “We saw a slight increase toward our diverse ingredients goal, and we remain focused on further advancing our progress,” the company stated.
Transparency Through Clearer Labels
Nutrition reformulation is only one part of PepsiCo’s transformation. Equally important is transparency with consumers. The company has pledged compliance with all labeling laws in the markets where it operates and continues to update its packaging to reflect reformulated products.
For instance, lower-sugar Pepsi options have been rolled out in China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and India, while the Lightly Salted product line in the U.S. now carries a label highlighting 50% less sodium than traditional counterparts. In North America, beverage packaging also promotes recycling with a “Refresh then Recycle” call to action.
Such initiatives highlight PepsiCo’s broader commitment to building consumer trust through honest communication and clear product information.
CEO Ramon Laguarta on Pep+ Transformation
PepsiCo’s leadership views pep+ not as a short-term sustainability strategy but as a long-term transformation of the company’s business model.
“Pep+ is not a sustainability strategy; it’s an ongoing transformation that powers our whole business, from innovation to production, marketing to distribution,” said Ramon Laguarta, chairman and CEO of PepsiCo.
“When we rolled out pep+ in 2021, we knew it would be important for the long-term strength of our company. Since then, we have created value for shareholders, customers, and communities while making PepsiCo more resilient and capable of overcoming systemic barriers. Growth and sustainability must go hand in hand, and we are proving it can be done.”
Why This Matters: A Global Perspective
PepsiCo’s progress carries weight far beyond the boardroom. With a portfolio spanning 22 iconic brands — including Pepsi, Lay’s, Gatorade, Tropicana, and Quaker — the company serves billions of consumers worldwide.
By reformulating these widely consumed products, PepsiCo has a unique ability to influence global diets and advance public health goals. Excess sodium, sugar, and saturated fats have long been linked to rising rates of obesity, hypertension, and chronic diseases. Reducing these elements across mainstream products is a direct way to improve consumer well-being at scale.
Furthermore, by introducing more plant-based proteins, whole grains, and other diverse ingredients, PepsiCo contributes to healthier eating habits while also supporting sustainable agriculture. This aligns with global priorities such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on good health, responsible consumption, and climate action.
Challenges Ahead
Despite its achievements, PepsiCo acknowledges that much work remains. Consumer demand for indulgent products still runs high, and balancing taste with nutrition reformulation is not without hurdles. Moreover, achieving the 2030 diverse ingredient goal of 145 billion portions will require a steep increase from the current 69 billion.
Yet, with its track record of exceeding expectations, PepsiCo appears well-positioned to continue making progress. Its early success with 2025 targets builds confidence that the company can meet — and perhaps surpass — its 2030 ambitions.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What nutrition goals did PepsiCo achieve ahead of schedule?
PepsiCo surpassed its 2025 targets by reducing added sugars in beverages, cutting sodium in convenient foods, and lowering saturated fat across its portfolio.
What is PepsiCo’s pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) strategy?
Pep+ is PepsiCo’s global sustainability and transformation framework. It focuses on healthier product reformulation, eco-friendly operations, and long-term value creation.
How much progress has PepsiCo made on sodium reduction?
By the end of 2024, 77% of PepsiCo’s convenient foods portfolio met the sodium target of not exceeding 1.3 mg per calorie.
How is PepsiCo addressing added sugars in beverages?
PepsiCo achieved its goal of having 67% of its beverages contain fewer than 100 calories from added sugars per 12-ounce serving.
What are PepsiCo’s nutrition goals for 2030?
By 2030, PepsiCo aims for 75% of its foods to meet sodium targets and to deliver 145 billion portions of diverse ingredients annually.
What diverse ingredients does PepsiCo plan to add to its foods?
PepsiCo is expanding its use of legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and plant-based proteins to support better nutrition.
How is PepsiCo improving transparency for consumers?
The company updates product labels to reflect reformulated options, such as lower-sugar beverages and reduced-sodium snacks, while also promoting recycling messages.
Conclusion
PepsiCo’s early success in meeting its nutrition goals highlights its commitment to healthier products and sustainable growth. By cutting added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats while expanding the use of diverse ingredients, the company is setting a strong example for the global food and beverage industry. With ambitious 2030 targets in place, PepsiCo continues to prove that innovation, transparency, and consumer well-being can move forward together.
