Frito-Lay has realized the need to protect our planet and preserve our natural resources for future generations. One plant in Bakersfield, California produces its own energy through cogeneration, one of the most energy-efficient means of power generation. Through this process, natural gas is burned to produce steam and electricity. The steam is used to produce snacks and the electricity is used to power the plant for production. Not only does this process provide electricity for Frito-Lay, but a local utility company also benefits because the excess electricity is sold to them.

Frito-Lay is always on the look out for technology that will allow their plants to reduce energy usage. They have developed several programs which have helped reduce, by 1.3 percent, the amount of energy used over the past year. For example, a plant in Frankfort, Indiana reuses waste heat from the potato chip cooking operation to heat up the building. This single effort alone reduces Frito-Lay’s fuel needs by 400,000 gallons of oil a year. Another effort includes the use of propane-powered sales vehicles. The vehicles offer a clean alternative to gasoline powered ones by eliminating carbon particulates from vehicle emissions and reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Frito-Lay currently is in the process of conserving water through a program at their manufacturing facilities which is expected to reduce water usage by up to one billion gallons over a three-year period. But conservation for Frito-Lay doesn’t stop here. They have been following environmentally sound practices for about 40 years and intend to continue exploring many new opportunities.

Reduction of fuel needs by 70 billion BTUs of energy in one year, leading to a 630,000 gallon decrease in Frito-Lay’s need for oil and saving the company $450,000.