PepsiCo India marks World Water Day with big claims, as environmental concerns persist

By A Representative 

PepsiCo India, the Indian arm of PepsiCo, has claimed that it replenished 1.48 billion litres of water in 2025, marking World Water Day with a renewed emphasis on what it describes as “water stewardship” initiatives.

In a press statement issued on March 21, the company said the figure reflects its efforts toward sustainable water resource management through watershed development, groundwater recharge, and community-based water and sanitation programmes. It also released a promotional video highlighting its “Jal Jeevan Melas,” which it says showcase on-ground impact.

According to the company, these initiatives are part of its “Partnership of Progress” framework and are implemented through its Sustainable Water Resource Development and Management (SWRDM) programme, along with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects. These efforts are being carried out in collaboration with organisations such as Alternative Development Initiatives and Pandit Jagat Ram Memorial FORCE Trust.

PepsiCo India stated that its watershed interventions span regions including Channo in Punjab, Pune in Maharashtra, and Kosi in Uttar Pradesh, where it claims to be using geo-hydrological planning and rainwater harvesting structures to recharge groundwater and improve water availability. The company further claimed that its programmes have benefited over 89,000 people by enhancing access to water and supporting climate-resilient agricultural practices.

In addition, the company said it is expanding its rural water and sanitation initiatives, particularly in Mathura and surrounding villages, with a stated goal of reaching around 100,000 residents across 30 villages.

However, these claims come against a backdrop of longstanding criticism of PepsiCo’s water usage practices in India and globally. The company has, over the years, faced allegations from environmental groups and local communities that its bottling operations extract large quantities of groundwater, contributing to depletion in water-stressed regions. Critics have argued that corporate-led “replenishment” figures often lack transparency and may not adequately compensate for the ecological impact of industrial-scale water extraction.

Concerns over water-intensive operations of beverage companies, including PepsiCo, have been raised in several parts of India, where groundwater levels are already under severe stress due to over-extraction and climate variability. Activists have also questioned whether such corporate sustainability initiatives serve more as reputational tools than as substantive environmental solutions.

PepsiCo, for its part, maintains that its approach focuses on reducing water use, improving efficiency, and replenishing local water sources in collaboration with communities. A senior company official reiterated that water stewardship remains central to its sustainability strategy, emphasising efforts to “use less, reuse more, and replenish what we use.”

Despite these assertions, the broader debate over the environmental footprint of large beverage companies—and the credibility of their sustainability claims—continues to persist.