The beverage industry has long been a leader when it comes to protecting the environment. We are continually innovating to conserve resources, reuse materials and boost efficiency to reduce our carbon footprint.

A good example is how two leading beverage companies have made a commitment to work together with the Future Fleet Campaign, Sierra Club and ForestEthics to make their trucking fleets more fuel efficient and less carbon intensive. Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, and Todd Paglia, executive director of ForestEthics, praised the companies for taking this step in a Huffington Post column:

“Through the Business for Social Responsibility Future of Fuels program, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are researching the carbon intensity of their vehicle fuels, the ways that they can reduce reliance on high-carbon fuels, and opportunities for increasing the number of plug-in and hybrid vehicles in their fleets," the two wrote.

“Through the American Beverage Association, which represents Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group, the industry has also begun tracking vehicle fleet efficiency and will regularly publicize both that data and efforts to improve vehicle fuel efficiency.”

Sierra Club and ForestEthics described the commitment as significant, “Because Coca-Cola and PepsiCo represent such well-known global brands, the effects of the changes they've committed to will extend far beyond their own markets.”

The beverage industry has been at the forefront of conservation and sustainability efforts for decades and has a long list of eco-friendly innovations. America’s leading beverage companies have increased the fuel economy of their fleets by nearly 13 percent since 2010. PepsiCo operates the largest all-electric delivery vehicle fleet in America, and The Coca-Cola Company operates the largest heavy-duty hybrid electric commercial truck fleet in North America, as Brune and Paglia point out.

Beverage companies also produce 100 percent recyclable packaging for nearly all containers, we provide significant financial support for local recycling initiatives, and have some of the best water efficiency rates in all of industry.

We only have one planet. The beverage industry is doing its part to be good stewards of the environment so that we will have a healthy planet for future generations to enjoy.