Keurig Dr Pepper Details Progress Toward Goals in 2019 Corporate Responsibility Report

The company detailed progress about its ambitious goals, including making almost 90% of its packaging recyclable. KDP also announced new science-based emissions reduction targets.  

BURLINGTON, Mass. and PLANO, Texas, Aug. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Keurig Dr Pepper (NYSE: KDP) today published its 2019 Corporate Responsibility Report, highlighting a year in which the Company made solid advancements on ambitious goals to reduce packaging waste, improve energy and water efficiency and secure responsibly sourced coffee and brewers. Signaling its continued commitment to a reduced carbon footprint, the Company added new emissions reduction targets to its Drink Well. Do Good. corporate responsibility platform.

"The momentum against our Drink Well. Do Good. efforts in 2019, our first calendar year operating as one Keurig Dr Pepper team, reflects the central role corporate responsibility has at our Company," said Monique Oxender, Chief Sustainability Officer, Keurig Dr Pepper. "We made progress against all our areas of focus, including reducing packaging waste and increasing circularity of our products, with 87% of packaging now recyclable and 20% made with post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. Importantly, as committed to in our last report, our new emissions targets approved by the Science Based Target initiative provide a clear path to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions."

Highlights from KDP's 2019 corporate responsibility report include:

• Increased circularity for packaging:  The Company is on track to achieve its goals of 100% recyclable or compostable packaging and 30% PCR content by 2025. Currently, 95% of the Company's K-Cup® pods are now recyclable, and all will be transitioned by the end of 2020. In support of solutions that drive a circular economy, KDP launched the $100 million Every Bottle Back initiative with the American Beverage Association and industry peers to improve recycling infrastructure and support consumer education. Similarly, the Company is a founding sponsor and the largest funder of The Recycling Partnership's Polypropylene Recycling Coalition, a parallel effort to further increase and improve the recyclability of polypropylene, the primary material of recyclable K-Cup® pods and Mott's applesauce cups.
• Accelerated climate action:  KDP's new climate goals set in motion plans to reduce the Company's greenhouse gas emissions while building climate resiliency throughout the value chain. The goals are approved by the Science Based Target initiative and align with the reductions required to meet the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius.
• Supplier engagement on sustainable production:  The majority of the Company's coffee is responsibly sourced and KDP remains on track to meet its goal of engaging one million people in its supply chain to significantly improve their lives by the end of 2020 – already reaching 783,000 people since 2014. A large portion of this work is dedicated to helping farmers and suppliers address the challenges created by climate change through efforts to increase crop and business resiliency.
• Community impact goal exceeded:  In 2019, the Company exceeded its goal of providing 13.5 million children and their families with play opportunities through its Let's Play initiative, supporting 14.2 million kids since 2011.

Keurig Dr Pepper developed its 2019 Corporate Responsibility Report in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, the most widely recognized sustainability reporting standard. The report was also developed as an annual communication on progress toward the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) principles, in line with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

About Keurig Dr Pepper 

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) is a leading beverage company in North America, with annual revenue in excess of $11 billion and nearly 26,000 employees. KDP holds leadership positions in soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea, water, juice and juice drinks and mixers, and markets the #1 single serve coffee brewing system in the U.S. and Canada. The Company's portfolio of more than 125 owned, licensed and partner brands is designed to satisfy virtually any consumer need, any time, and includes Keurig®, Dr Pepper®, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters®, Canada Dry®, Snapple®, Bai®, Mott's®, CORE® and The Original Donut Shop®. Through its powerful sales and distribution network, KDP can deliver its portfolio of hot and cold beverages to nearly every point of purchase for consumers. The Company is committed to sourcing, producing and distributing its beverages responsibly through its Drink Well. Do Good. corporate responsibility platform, including efforts around circular packaging, efficient natural resource use and supply chain sustainability.
For more information, visit www.keurigdrpepper.com.