There are many ways to say thank you for the sacrifice and service of veterans and their families on Veterans Day.
PepsiCo adds an unlikely way to this list—by recycling.
Through PepsiCo Recycling, recycled beverage containers translate into business training opportunities for veterans around the nation.
This November, PepsiCo will officially be recognized as the first 3-star partner of Syracuse, N.Y.-based Institute for Veteran and Military Families for its longstanding support of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) program. As one of the early supporters of EBV, PepsiCo has linked its beverage recycling program to helping veterans become entrepreneurs.
Since 2010, PepsiCo has donated $1.5 million to EBV and will allocate an additional $500,000 over the next three years.
More than 4.4 million pounds of bottles and cans have been collected through PepsiCo Recycling programs during that time.
“Every bottle and can recycled makes a difference, not only for the environment but also helping veterans seek new career opportunities and launch and grow their own businesses,” said Meagan Smith, program director for PepsiCo Recycling. “We’re honored to be a part of the network EBV has built nationwide and are working to grow our partnership in innovative new ways through our recycling programs at schools, colleges, communities and retailers.”
When you recycle beverage bottles and cans with PepsiCo, you are helping further the EBV’s mission to provide training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans with disabilities resulting from military service.
Since PepsiCo partnered with EBV, more than 925 veterans have received training and support.
“As we approach a new landmark in our partnership with PepsiCo, we want to recognize how instrumental they were in helping us grow and transform our program,” said Mike Haynie, vice chancellor for Veteran and Military Affairs and executive director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. “We began with a small program at Syracuse and have now expanded to eight universities and more than 925 veterans graduated.”
PepsiCo’s Commitment to Recycling
As a part of Performance with Purpose, PepsiCo’s goal to deliver sustained value to shareholders and stakeholders, the company is committed to increasing the recyclability of its packaging. Since 2010, PepsiCo has added more than 5,000 recycling systems across North America through recycling programs in more than 41 states. In 2013, PepsiCo invested in support for the operation and delivery of our recycling programs, increasing the total amount of material recycled to more than 18 million pounds and 324 million containers since 2010.
The company has also undertaken several other initiatives, including:
Closed Loop Fund
PepsiCo recently collaborated with Walmart and a number of other companies to establish a Closed Loop Fund that will help finance recycling programs to divert valuable raw materials from landfill. The Fund aims to invest $100 million in recycling infrastructure projects and spur private and public funding for transforming the recycling system in the United States. The Fund will provide loans to municipalities and other organizations to fund innovative ideas to reach the goal of providing 100 percent of U.S. households with access to recycling where and when they need it.
K-12 Recycle Rally
PepsiCo has been working with K-12 schools through its Recycle Rally program since 2010. The program helps teach K-12 students valuable lessons about the importance of recycling and improving our environment while providing the opportunity for valuable rewards and prizes to green their schools. In 2013, PepsiCo teamed with more than 1,000 schools in 38 states, collecting 42.5 million recycled beverage containers.