PepsiCo Portugal has announced a €7.5 million investment in the construction of a new biodigester that will convert organic waste into biogas.
The project reflects the company’s “commitment to sustainability and the reduction of carbon emissions at its snack factory in Carregado,” according to the company.
The biodigester will help the Carregado facility, located in the municipality of Alenquer, achieve a 30% reduction in carbon emissions while also reducing gas consumption by allowing the installation to use the biogas produced during the anaerobic digestion process.
The process of directly using biogas as fuel in various stages of production and for cleaning the production lines will be used as a renewable energy source. In order for biogas to be a direct source of energy.
The biodigester at PepsiCo Portugal will use sludge from the plant’s wastewater treatment plant, potato peelings, and other food waste deemed unfit for consumption. This waste is pre-treated before being converted into clean organic compost and then into biogas. The project is part of PepsiCo’s Positive (pep+) sustainability strategy.
“We are proud to start the year with the announcement of this pioneering project in southern Europe, which is a big step in the transformation process towards a Positive Value Chain,” said Fernando Moraga, PepsiCo’s country manager in Portugal. We will operate more efficiently with the planet by developing alternative energy solutions with the new biodigester.”
“In addition, it will allow our business unit to continue to be a case study in terms of PepsiCo’s level of good sustainability practices at a European level, as well as an example of local circularity and reconversion, as the project anticipates the use of residues from outside our factory,” Sousa added.
PepsiCo says the biodigester will be built on a separate site next to the Alenquer factory in April 2023, with a total area of 420 square meters.
