PepsiCo Q&A: Partnerships for Water Positivity

Throughout its corporate strategy, PepsiCo is working to embed water stewardship initiatives.

It has recently achieved its target to replenish 100% of the water used at all of its company-owned facilities located in high-risk watersheds.

As SVP Social Impact at PepsiCo and President of the PepsiCo Foundation, Monica Bauer leads global efforts to strengthen communities through expanding access to food, safe water, farming and economic opportunity.

She also works on aligning the PepsiCo Foundation's philanthropic work with PepsiCo's broader business strategy.

Monica shares her insights with Sustainability Magazine.

What is The PepsiCo Foundation and how does it support communities?

The PepsiCo Foundation is grounded in a simple belief that lasting impact starts with listening and working alongside the people closest to the challenge.

We focus on removing barriers so families can stay healthy, children can stay in school and farmers can build sustainable livelihoods. We partner closely with communities to build solutions that reflect local realities and endure over time.

This approach builds trust and creates impact beyond individual programs while aligning with PepsiCo’s pep+ strategy.  Since 2019, PepsiCo Foundation investments in safe water access programs have reached 19.5 million people.

Why does PepsiCo invest in water programs?

Water shapes nearly every part of daily life, from health and education to food production and economic opportunities. When access is unreliable, families are forced to make difficult trade-offs. 

As a food and beverage company, much of PepsiCo’s water use is tied to agriculture and the ingredients that go into our products, making water essential not only to our business but to the broader food system we are part of. 

We invest in water because it is one of the most effective ways to strengthen communities. Safe water improves health, frees up time for education and work and supports more stable livelihoods. It also strengthens the food system that PepsiCo depends on. Through the Foundation, we focus on building systems that communities can manage and sustain over time.

How does this connect to PepsiCo’s sustainability strategy?

Water stewardship is a core part of PepsiCo’s pep+ strategy, reflecting our belief that strong communities and responsible operations go hand in hand.

PepsiCo recently reached key milestones, including replenishing 100% of the water used in company owned facilities in high-risk watersheds and adopting the Alliance for Water Stewardship Standard across those sites. The PepsiCo Foundation builds on this work by focusing on community impact, creating a more complete approach to water stewardship.

How can partnerships help solve the global water crisis?

Water challenges are complex, and no single organisation can solve them alone. Progress depends on strong partnerships across sectors. We work with organisations like WaterAid and the Inter-American Development Bank to expand access to water and sanitation while strengthening governance and long-term system management. Communities are central to this work and must be part of both the design and the solution.

In Latin America, early Foundation investments have helped catalyse more than US$570m in follow-on public funding.

How is PepsiCo bringing clean water to communities in Colombia?

In Alta Guajira, Colombia, families in Indigenous Wayuu communities spend hours collecting water, particularly during dry seasons.

Through our AquaFund partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank, alongside our implementing partner WaterAid, we worked with communities to strengthen traditional rainwater harvesting systems rather than replace them, supporting long-term sustainability. Today, 342 families have improved water access, reaching nearly 1,800 people across 22 communities, allowing more time for school, work and community life.

What role should companies play in addressing global water challenges?

Companies have the opportunity to be part of the solution. Water is essential to both business operations and community well‑being.

Beyond responsible water management, companies must invest in community solutions that reflect local needs. Lasting impact comes from combining infrastructure with governance, financing and behaviour change while helping convene partners and scale what works.

How do you plan to reach more people with safe water in the future?

Our goal is to reach 100 million people with safe water access by 2030. Achieving that requires scaling solutions that work and continuing to innovate alongside strong partners. Our partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank through AquaFund, which is advancing water access in both Colombia and Guatemala, is a key example of how we expand impact through locally grounded, system-driven approaches.

The work in Colombia shows what is possible when solutions are shaped by communities and supported by strong partnerships. At the same time, PepsiCo continues to collaborate with organisations like WaterAid and others to expand access to safe water globally. Across countries including Nigeria, Egypt, India and Guatemala, we are focused on strengthening local capacity and building systems that can be sustained over time, while continuing to listen to those closest to the challenge.