Cola major PepsiCo has unveiled global plans to provide access to safe water to three million people in developing countries by 2015. The company has also announced plans to bring down its water consumption in production.
PepsiCo announced recently that it would continue to make efforts to arrive at positive water balance in its operations in water-distressed areas.
It will be a welcome step as the company, along with its main rival Coca Cola, has often been accused of exploitation of water resources around some of its manufacturing plants. The two cola majors have been under intense pressure in India, where they have both been separately announcing plans to arrive at a positive water balance -- recharging water levels in areas where their plants have become controversial as much as they have been taking from the soil.
The company said during 2011, the PepsiCo Foundation will reach its goal of providing access to safe water and sanitation to 1 million people through support of several partners. It has been working with several partners, spread across countries, in projects that seek to enhance access to water and sanitation facilities to local communities.
A statement issued by the company said it had set a global goal in 2007 to reduce water consumption by 20 per cent per unit of production by 2015. To date, the company has achieved a more than 15 per cent improvement in water use efficiency as compared to the company's 2006 baseline, it added.
Some of its global partners include Water.org, Safe Water Network, The Energy Resources Institute, China Women's Development Foundation and the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Together, they have been helping install village water and irrigation systems, establishing water health centers, constructing rainwater harvesting cisterns, improve sanitation programs and recharge aquifers in developing communities, particularly in Ghana, Kenya, Brazil, China and India.
The announcements by the company come against a backdrop of increased focus of corporate role in sustainable development. Companies are now being held accountable for mismanagement of water resources, particularly in water-starved regions.
Showing posts with label rainwater harvesting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rainwater harvesting. Show all posts
Monday, April 5, 2010
Monday, October 26, 2009
India-centric fund eyes investments in water sector
Yet another fund has decided to tap the growing water industry in India. India-centric Prithvi Sustainability Innovation and Technology Fund, with a proposed corpus of $150 million, has decided to make investments in the Indian cleantech industry, including the growing water industry.
The fund is looking to make investments in companies in India that provide solutions to water, air and soil contamination. And, it will be looking at emerging areas such as biofuels, air pollution management, soil conservation and organic farming, renewable energy sectors like solar power and wind, solid waste management, biomass combustion, co-generation systems and recycling technology.
Phew! That's just about as much cleantech you can have on your plate.
Prithvi hopes to achieve first close of the fund by January 2010 at $100 million and a final close in March. (I hope to be around to share its next step here).
The fund is currently tapping overseas investors including institutions, high net worth individuals and hedge funds in the US and UK. It also remains in talks with investee companies and will make investments after the first close.
Prithvi hopes to invest in companies engaged in various sectors of the water industry and is particularly eyeing projects in the water contamination, rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment industry.
The proposed investment by Prithvi in the water sector in India is an indication of the growing interest of venture capitalists in the technology solutions being provided by some Indian companies in the sector. With the growing scarcity expected to create additional demand for water in the country, several private equity funds have already evinced interest in picking up stakes in companies engaged in the water sector.
The $150-million fund will have an investment range of $5 million to $15 million (Rs 23-Rs 70 crore) each in order to help ventures across a range of clean and green technology segments.
The fund is looking to make investments in companies in India that provide solutions to water, air and soil contamination. And, it will be looking at emerging areas such as biofuels, air pollution management, soil conservation and organic farming, renewable energy sectors like solar power and wind, solid waste management, biomass combustion, co-generation systems and recycling technology.
Phew! That's just about as much cleantech you can have on your plate.
Prithvi hopes to achieve first close of the fund by January 2010 at $100 million and a final close in March. (I hope to be around to share its next step here).
The fund is currently tapping overseas investors including institutions, high net worth individuals and hedge funds in the US and UK. It also remains in talks with investee companies and will make investments after the first close.
Prithvi hopes to invest in companies engaged in various sectors of the water industry and is particularly eyeing projects in the water contamination, rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment industry.
The proposed investment by Prithvi in the water sector in India is an indication of the growing interest of venture capitalists in the technology solutions being provided by some Indian companies in the sector. With the growing scarcity expected to create additional demand for water in the country, several private equity funds have already evinced interest in picking up stakes in companies engaged in the water sector.
The $150-million fund will have an investment range of $5 million to $15 million (Rs 23-Rs 70 crore) each in order to help ventures across a range of clean and green technology segments.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
