PepsiCo, AWS & NetApp on Data's Role in Sustainability

Leading executives from PepsiCo, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and NetApp gave their thoughts on the future of sustainability after coming off stage at Sustainability LIVE: Climate Week NYC.

Following their presentations, PepsiCo CSO Jim Andrew, NetApp CSO Nicola Acutt and AWS Director of Sustainability Chris Walker offered their perspectives on the route to net zero, data's role in decarbonisation and the need for cross-sector collaboration.

System change and collaboration

For PepsiCo CSO Jim Andrew, the conversation must begin with systemic change.

He explains that leaders should focus on transforming the wider systems in which they operate, not just their individual businesses.

For a business like PepsiCo, this means the food system.

“There were really three key messages and the first was the importance of system change. I think everybody who's here at Climate Week needs to be focused not on their individual organisation, but on how we are going to change systems,” Jim explains.

He also stresses that achieving sustainability goals is a “team sport” requiring deep collaboration.

Jim argues that progress cannot be made in isolation and that organisations need to work together with greater acceleration.

“No one person or business can make the progress that we collectively need to if we're acting in isolation. So how do we work together, help each other to go towards a common objective?” he says.

The role of data and the CIO

A key theme that emerges is the importance of data.

NetApp CSO Nicola Acutt argues that a key stakeholder is often missing from the sustainability conversation: the Chief Information Officer (CIO).

According to Nicola, the explosion of data, driven by artificial intelligence (AI), places the CIO at the centre of decision-making.

“My keynote was a little bit provocative in that my thesis is that we as sustainability professionals are missing a key stakeholder that can help us unlock great potential...And that is the CIO,” Nicola states.

She explains that while CIOs and Chief Sustainability Officers are not always in the same room, they can be a powerful force for change when they collaborate.

Chris Walker, Director of Sustainability at AWS, echoes this sentiment.

He notes a shared conclusion among panellists is the need to treat sustainability as a data problem.

“Some of the things that came out of that were to start thinking about it as a data problem and presenting solutions to your companies using data," Chris says.

He adds: "But then also use the voice of the customer to really bring some of that pressure back to your company to start making real progress.”

Cross-sector partnerships

The speakers agree that solving sustainability challenges requires partnerships that bridge sectors and even competitors.

Chris from AWS points out that whether working with peers, suppliers or customers, the lessons learned in sustainability are often universal.

Collaboration is essential for procuring renewable energy or improving supply chain transparency.

“No single business is going to solve this, right? Not one company is going to solve it for the planet... It's going to take the collection of peers and companies to really do it together,” Chris explains.

Events like Sustainability LIVE are important for fostering these connections.

Nicola from NetApp highlights their value in bringing the professional community together to share insights and build partnerships.

“I can't underscore enough how fantastic these events are for professionals in our space because it is an opportunity for us to connect as a professional community and to share insights with each other,” she says.

Ultimately, the goal of Climate Week NYC is to turn discussion into tangible outcomes. For Jim at PepsiCo, the main objective is action.

“What I want to see achieved coming out of Climate Week is not talking, but action,” he states, adding he is seeking new partnerships to accelerate progress.

For Chris at AWS, the key is to maintain momentum.

He wants to see the connections and data-driven conversations continue throughout the year to ensure hurdles are faced and progress is made.