In UK, PepsiCo Seeks to Surpass Coke in Water Conservation

International drink and snack giant PepsiCo has vowed to cut the carbon emissions and water consumption of its UK operations by 50 percent in five years. PepsiCo, which is the parent company of Britain’s biggest-selling brand of potato chips, says it will switch to potatoes that require less water and are grown using more efficient methods of irrigation. Through these improvements, company officials say they will cut the amount of water required to grow one ton of potatoes from 10 tons to five tons by 2015. The company also says it will convert to a lower-carbon type of fertilizer for its 350 UK farms. According to a report in the Guardian, the initiative would surpass similar commitments made by rival Coca-Cola. Both companies have received criticism for depleting water supplies, particularly in drought-prone regions. In India, where advocacy groups are urging more corporate accountability for water consumption, the state of Kerala has banned the sale of Coke, Pepsi, and other soft drinks.