PepsiCo India marked World Water Day by announcing it had replenished 1.48 billion litres of water in 2025, presenting the move as a major step in sustainable water management. The company emphasised its “water stewardship” efforts, pointing to community-based projects, watershed development, and groundwater recharge programmes as evidence of its commitment to improving water access and supporting climate-resilient agriculture.
The announcement, made via a March 21 press release, was accompanied by a video showcasing the company’s “Jal Jeevan Melas,” which it said demonstrates tangible outcomes at the grassroots level. These initiatives are part of PepsiCo’s “Partnership for Progress” framework, implemented through the Sustainable Water Resource Development and Management programme and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene projects. Collaboration with local NGOs, including Alternative Development Initiatives and the Pandit Jagat Ram Memorial FORCE Trust, underpins these efforts.
Expanding Groundwater Initiatives Across India
PepsiCo India highlighted watershed interventions in Channo, Punjab, Pune, Maharashtra, and Kosi, Uttar Pradesh, where geo-hydrological planning and rainwater harvesting structures are reportedly used to recharge groundwater and increase water availability. The company stated that over 89,000 people have benefited from improved water access and sustainable farming practices.
Further expansion into Mathura and nearby villages aims to reach around 100,000 residents across 30 villages. Officials stressed that the programme prioritises efficient water use, operational optimisation, and replenishment of local water sources in collaboration with communities. The company reiterated its guiding principle: “use less, reuse more, and replenish what we use.”
Critics Raise Questions About Transparency
Despite these claims, PepsiCo India’s water practices have faced scrutiny both domestically and internationally. Environmental groups and local communities have long warned that large-scale bottling operations extract significant groundwater, contributing to depletion in water-stressed areas. Critics argue that corporate “replenishment” figures often lack independent verification and may not fully offset industrial-scale water extraction’s ecological impact.
In India, the water-intensive operations of beverage companies continue to draw attention in regions where groundwater levels are already under severe pressure from overuse and climate variability. Activists caution that such sustainability initiatives risk serving more as reputation management than substantive environmental interventions.
While PepsiCo maintains that water stewardship remains central to its sustainability strategy, the debate over the genuine environmental impact of major beverage companies continues, highlighting the need for independent monitoring and long-term accountability.
