Frito-Lay’s Orlando, Fla., facility has become a member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Environmental Performance Track Program by demonstrating excellence in environmental management and committing to above-standard goals for continuous improvements in environmental performance. The EPA has recognized Frito-Lay Orlando for this achievement at a flag raising ceremony. Frito-Lay’s Orlando facility becomes one of only 21 Florida companies to receive Performance Track. Frito-Lay’s Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and Wooster, Ohio, sites also were accepted into the program this year.
The EPA National Environmental Performance Track Program recognizes facilities that have a strong record of environmental compliance, set three-year goals for continuous improvements in environmental performance beyond regulatory requirements, have internal systems in place to manage environmental impact, engage in community outreach and consistently report results.
“For nearly a decade, Frito-Lay Orlando has had a resource conservation program that has helped the facility achieve significant reductions in water, fuel and electricity use,” said Leslie Starr Keating, senior vice president, operations, Frito-Lay North America. “As a company, Frito-Lay continuously seeks to build on these efforts and further strengthen our environmental stewardship – joining EPA’s Performance Track Program is part of that strategy.”
The Frito-Lay Orlando facility has set several goals for environmental improvement over the next few years, including reducing total water usage, decreasing landfill waste with further improved recycling programs, and reducing energy usage.
“Performance Track members are raising the bar when it comes to environmental responsibility,” said Reginald Barrino, Performance Track coordinator, EPA Region 4, Office of Environmental Accountability. “We hope more companies follow Frito-Lay’s model and make sustainability a priority that ultimately becomes part of their corporate DNA.”
Individual facilities apply for membership in the EPA’s Performance Track program, and companies may have multiple facilities in the program. The Jonesboro, Ark., site was the first Frito-Lay plant to join the program last year. Since the program’s inception in 2000, its more than 530 members have collectively reported greenhouse gas reductions of 310,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, reductions in nitrogen oxides of 13,000 tons and reductions of hazardous waste of 52,000 tons.
PepsiCo, Frito-Lay’s parent, is committed to sustainable growth, defined as Performance with Purpose, which means generating healthy financial returns while giving back to communities the company serves. This includes reducing the company’s impact on the environment through water, energy and packaging initiatives.
Frito-Lay North America is the $11 billion convenient foods business unit of PepsiCo, which is headquartered in Purchase, N.Y. In addition to Frito-Lay, PepsiCo business units include Pepsi-Cola, Quaker Foods, Gatorade and Tropicana.
