Jun. 29 – Major beverage and food company, PepsiCo, has opened a “green” plant located in Chongqing city, the first in five new manufacturing plants slated for the next two years.

The new plant is the company’s first “green” beverage plant abroad and the first of its kind in the country. PepsiCo is committing US$1 billion in China as part of its strategy to pursue the potential of emerging markets and develop new local products as well.

The facility was built according to the standards of sustainable engineering standards set by the Green Building Council called the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.  More than 35 water and energy saving designs are used in the plant along with an environmental management system that manages water and energy use in real time.

It will also use 22 percent less water and 23 percent less energy compared to  PepsiCo’s other plants in the country. General cleaning and landscaping needs will be met by re-used water.

The company will be focusing expansion to the country’s western and interior provinces particularly Kunming, Zhengzhou, Quanzhou, Lanzhou and Nanchang.

“Despite the current uncertainty in many parts of the world, we have no doubt that China will remain a powerful engine of global economic expansion,” Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo chairman and chief executive officer said in a statement. “This is the largest, most ambitious development effort we’ve undertaken in our more than 25 years of doing business here.”