PepsiCo is testing a plastic ring alternative, one made from molded pulp. The company will test the rings on mini can packs of Pepsi and Sierra mist. The rings are biodegradable and compostable.

According to Food Navigator, the company has instigated the change as part of its commitment to making 100% of packaging recyclable, biodegradable or compostable by 2025. The test will happen in the Sacramento, California market.

Emily Silver, vice president of innovation and marketing capabilities at PepsiCo Beverages North America that the test is “one of many” solutions that will help the company achieve its environmental goals. Silver also said the test would inform changes to a longer-term strategy.

The company is working with suppliers to determine the best way to move forward with the compostable rings.

Globally, we produce 300 million tons of plastic every year, 78 percent of which is NOT reclaimed or recycled. Around  8.8 million tons of plastic get dumped into the oceans every year! 700 marine animals are faced with extinction due to the threat that plastic poses to them in the form of entanglement, pollution, and ingestion. 50 percent of sea turtles have plastic in their stomachs. By 2050, 99 percent of all seabird species will have ingested plastic waste. According to a study by the World Economic Forum, there will be one tonne of plastic for every three tonnes of fish by 2025, and if things go on business as usual, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050.

PepsiCo is just one of many companies working to reduce its plastic waste. Heineken and Budweiser also recently committed to reducing plastic in the United Kingdom. Coca-Cola made headlines recently when the company said it would not stop producing plastic bottles.

There are products you may be using or habits you may have that contribute to plastic pollution. Learn more about how the use of Teabags, Cotton Swabs, Laundry, Contact Lenses, Glitter and Sheet Masks pollute our oceans so you can make more informed decisions going forward. There are also numerous simple actions and switches that can help cut plastic out of our lives including, making your own cosmetics, shampoo, toothpaste, soap, household cleaners, using mason jars, reusable bags/bottles/straws, and avoiding microbeads!

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