Beginning in September, the UC Davis campus community will see a significant shift in the packaging of beverages sold in retail locations as well as vending machines across campus. While the drinks themselves will remain the same, much of the packaging will change.

This change is closely tied to a new preferred supplier contract with PepsiCo that took effect Sept. 1. In the coming weeks, approximately 80% of PepsiCo beverages sold at UC Davis will be packaged in aluminum, glass, recyclable cartons or other non-plastic containers. According to the agreement, PepsiCo has until 2030 to switch Naked Juice, Muscle Milk, Gatorade and Pure Leaf Tea containers away from plastic.

The shift also aligns with broader efforts by the state of California and the University of California to reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics. UC researchers have demonstrated that plastics can have a significant environmental impact, with only a small fraction of single-use items being recycled. This effort has also been championed by students from the CalPIRG Davis chapter, who have long advocated for reducing single-use plastics on campus.

“Switching to sustainable beverage packaging is a meaningful step toward our zero waste goals, but there's much more to accomplish,” said UC Davis Director of Sustainability Eric O’Brien. “This change is part of a broader, ongoing effort. We’re committed to working with the entire campus community to continue making progress.”

While the new packaging is a step toward sustainability, customers may also notice a minimal increase — between 20-30 cents — for some beverages due to the higher cost of sustainable packaging materials compared to traditional single-use plastics. 

“Moving away from single-use plastics in our retail locations is a huge step for our campus,” said Kraig Brady, executive director of Dining Services. “This one comes at a slightly higher cost, but there’s no question it’s worth doing. Fortunately, our agreement with Pepsi kept the costs reasonable.”

Even campus retailers that chose not to join the PepsiCo agreement, like the Coffee House and CoHo South Café—both operated by Associated Students of UC Davis (ASUCD)—will be transitioning their beverages on a similar timeline.

“The Coffee House has a long tradition of being a leader in sustainable food services,” said Darin Schluep, director of ASUCD Dining Services. “This transition is another step in further reducing our environmental impact. We’re proud to be a part of these efforts and to continue to support UC Davis in achieving its sustainability goals.”

UC Davis Stores, which includes the bookstore and retail locations at the ARC and Memorial Union, facilitated the beverage container swap in 2020.

How You Can Help

The UC Davis community is encouraged to support this transition by choosing beverages in non-plastic containers, using refillable water bottles, and getting free water from the numerous filtered water stations provided by UC Davis’ Healthy Beverage Initiative.

In addition to reducing plastic use, the campus community can also contribute by properly recycling aluminum and glass containers in the designated recycling bins located throughout campus. Every small action helps UC Davis move closer to its zero waste goals.

Looking Ahead

The transition away from single-use plastics in our campus retail locations is just one part of UC Davis’ broader sustainability strategy. For more information, browse the single-use plastics policy page on the Sustainable UC Davis website and download the recently revised University of California’s Sustainable Practices Policy.