PURCHASE, N.Y., March 30, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Pilot program to test all-natural refrigeration system in Pepsi-Cola vending machines begins this month in Washington, D.C. area

PepsiCo today announced a groundbreaking pilot project that introduces the most climate-friendly vending machines ever placed in the United States.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090330/NY90796)

Under the new program, The Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG) is placing 30 Pepsi-Cola vending machines in high-consumer traffic areas in the Washington, D.C. area. The machines, which feature the new Pepsi logo along with a special green refrigerant sticker, use less energy and generate 12% less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than current vending machines. In addition to their energy efficiency improvements, the new machines use carbon dioxide (CO2), a natural refrigerant, instead of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). This marks the first time that vending machines cooled by CO2 have been introduced in the United States.

This project is part of PepsiCo's broad commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of the vending and cooling equipment used to sell its drinks. To accomplish this, PepsiCo is focusing on three areas:

    --  Energy:  Improving the energy efficiency of its machines, as energy use
        accounts for the vast majority of refrigeration equipment's GHG
        emissions
    --  Insulating Foam:  Eliminating HFCs from the insulating foam in vending
        machines, coolers and fountain equipment

    --  Refrigerants:  Using green refrigerants instead of HFCs in its equipment

"Many people don't realize that the largest part of a vending machine's GHG emissions -- about 95 percent, in fact -- come from the energy required to run it," said Robert Lewis, vice president of packaging and equipment development for PepsiCo. "The insulating foam and refrigerant gases are responsible for the rest, and we're committed to reducing all parts of the equation."

PepsiCo has a long track record of improving the energy efficiency of its vending machines and coolers. On average, 2008 model vending machines, which all meet EPA Energy Star requirements, use 51 percent less energy than 2003 models, and 2008 coolers consume 44 percent less energy than their 2004 counterparts. In addition, PepsiCo was also the first in the industry to mandate that the foam used to insulate its vending machines and coolers be free of HFCs. Through these improvements, PepsiCo has reduced greenhouse gas emissions from its refrigeration equipment by 598,000 metric tons, an average of 282,000 metric tons/year -- the equivalent of removing 52,000 cars from the road in a year or planting 125,000 trees annually.

In addition to the CO2-cooled machines included in this pilot program, PepsiCo is testing thousands of machines around the world that rely on other green refrigerants -- specifically isobutane and propane -- that also have a lower climate impact than current HFC refrigerants.

"We're constantly looking for ways to make our business more efficient and environmentally sustainable," said Lewis. "This field test will help us evaluate the performance and reliability of these new machines in a real-world environment. We hope to get a sneak preview of what sustainable refrigeration could look like on a larger scale."

In 2006, PepsiCo joined other industry leaders and environmental groups in Refrigerants Naturally! (RN), a global initiative focused on addressing climate change and ozone layer depletion caused by hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gases in point of sale refrigeration equipment. As part of RN, the group is working together as an industry to eliminate use of HFC in refrigerated point-of-sale equipment. RN is supported by Greenpeace and the United Nation Environment Programme and is recognized as a "Partnership for Sustainable Development" by the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.

PepsiCo's mission to deploy more sustainable equipment is part of the company's commitment to sustainable growth, defined as Performance with Purpose. PepsiCo has announced goals to reduce water consumption by 20 percent, reduce electricity consumption 20 percent, and reduce fuels consumption by 25 percent per unit of production by 2015 as compared to 2006. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded PepsiCo a 2009 Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency.

The pilot program is made possible by PepsiCo's partners, PBG, which is responsible for placement and servicing of the machines, and supplier, Crane Merchandising System's Dixie Narco Business.

About Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages

Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages (www.pepsi.com), based in Purchase, N.Y., is PepsiCo's refreshment beverage unit in the United States and Canada. Its U.S. trademarks include Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist, Mug, Aquafina, SoBe and IZZE. The company also makes and markets Tropicana juice drinks, Dole and Ocean Spray single-serve juices and North America's bestselling ready-to-drink iced teas and coffees, respectively, via joint ventures with Lipton and Starbucks. For more information, please visit www.pepsiproductfacts.com.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo is one of the world's largest food and beverage companies, with 2008 annual revenues of more than $43 billion. The company employs approximately 198,000 people worldwide, and its products are sold in approximately 200 countries. Its principal businesses include: Frito-Lay snacks, Pepsi-Cola beverages, Gatorade sports drinks, Tropicana juices and Quaker foods. The PepsiCo portfolio includes 18 brands that generate $1 billion or more each in annual retail sales. PepsiCo's commitment to sustainable growth, defined as Performance with Purpose, is focused on generating healthy financial returns while giving back to communities the company serves. This includes meeting consumer needs for a spectrum of convenient foods and beverages, reducing the company's impact on the environment through water, energy and packaging initiatives, and supporting its employees through a diverse and inclusive culture that recruits and retains world-class talent. PepsiCo is listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index and the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.