easyJet and PepsiCo Lead the Way in Sustainable Practices

easyJet trials electric aircraft towing at Schiphol

easyJet has started testing electric aircraft towing technology at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, marking the first deployment of the TaxiBot system for Airbus operations at a European airport. The trial involves four Airbus A320neo aircraft and replaces conventional engine-based taxiing with a semi-robotic electric tug that pulls planes from gate to runway without firing up the main engines.

The move is part of a broader pattern among UK and European businesses. Companies are shifting sustainability effort from pilot projects into core operations. For easyJet, that means addressing emissions during ground movements. For food and beverage businesses like PepsiCo, it means changing how raw materials are grown. Both approaches share a common thread: they reduce carbon intensity in areas that have traditionally been hard to decarbonise.

Schiphol Airport confirmed the TaxiBot deployment represents a first for Airbus aircraft in Europe. easyJet estimates the system will save an average of 95 kilograms of fuel and cut 299 kilograms of CO2 per flight. Schiphol suggests that wider adoption could reduce fuel consumption during taxiing by up to 65 per cent across airport operations.

For UK businesses watching this space, the significance lies in operational scope. Aviation has limited options for rapid decarbonisation. Electric towing does not solve the emissions problem for flight itself, but it does address a specific, measurable source of emissions on the ground. That makes it a practical step rather than a headline commitment.

How the TaxiBot system works in practice

TaxiBot is a hybrid vehicle that attaches to an aircraft’s nose gear. Pilots remain in control of steering and braking, but the tug provides all forward motion using electric power. The system eliminates the need to start jet engines until the aircraft reaches the runway threshold, cutting fuel burn and noise pollution during taxi operations.

The technology is semi-robotic rather than fully autonomous. Pilots communicate with the TaxiBot operator via radio, and the aircraft’s steering inputs are transmitted to the tug in real time. This setup preserves pilot authority while offloading propulsion to a ground-based electric motor. Engine start-up happens just before takeoff, reducing idle time and the associated fuel consumption.

Amsterdam Schiphol selected the technology as part of its airport sustainability programme. The airport is under regulatory pressure to reduce noise and emissions, particularly during night operations and periods of high traffic density. Electric taxiing addresses both issues without requiring changes to aircraft design or airspace management.

easyJet operates a large fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft, and the airline has framed the trial as a scalable solution rather than a one-off experiment. The initial rollout covers four aircraft, but the technology is compatible with the airline’s entire short-haul fleet. That means adoption could expand if the trial demonstrates reliable fuel savings and operational efficiency.

What the fuel savings mean for airline operations

An average saving of 95 kilograms of fuel per flight translates to roughly 12 litres of jet kerosene. For a single flight, that might seem modest. However, easyJet operates hundreds of flights daily across its network. Multiply the per-flight saving by annual departures, and the cumulative reduction becomes material both financially and environmentally.

Jet fuel accounts for a significant share of airline operating costs. Fuel price volatility makes any consistent reduction in consumption valuable from a cost-control perspective. easyJet’s estimate of 299 kilograms of CO2 saved per flight is based on standard emission factors for jet kerosene combustion. Over a full year of operations, those savings could contribute measurably to the airline’s Scope 1 emissions reporting under mandatory carbon disclosure rules.

UK businesses in other sectors may find this approach instructive. Airlines face sector-specific decarbonisation challenges, but the principle holds across industries. Consequently, identifying high-frequency, high-emission activities within core operations can yield disproportionate carbon reductions when multiplied at scale. For easyJet, taxiing is a repetitive process that happens on every flight, making it an obvious target for efficiency gains.

Nevertheless, electric towing does not address emissions during flight, which remain the dominant source of aviation’s climate impact. Sustainable aviation fuel and future aircraft propulsion technologies will be needed to decarbonise airborne operations. Meanwhile, ground-based measures like TaxiBot offer near-term emissions reductions that require no new aircraft design or certification.

PepsiCo expands regenerative agriculture across supply chains

PepsiCo has reported progress on its regenerative agriculture strategy, confirming that the company helped drive adoption of regenerative, restorative or protective farming practices across more than 3.5 million acres by the end of 2024. The company works with approximately 20,000 farmers globally and has set a public target to reach 10 million acres by 2030.

Regenerative agriculture is a farming approach designed to improve soil health, increase biodiversity, enhance water retention and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions. Practices include cover cropping, reduced tillage, crop rotation and nutrient management. The goal is to build resilience in agricultural supply chains while cutting the carbon intensity of raw material production.

PepsiCo estimates that its regenerative agriculture efforts produced a net reduction of 1.6 million metric tons of on-farm greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. This figure includes soil carbon sequestration, which occurs when soils absorb and store atmospheric carbon dioxide through improved management practices. For food and beverage companies, agriculture represents a major source of Scope 3 emissions, so reducing emissions at source addresses a key reporting challenge.

In 2025, PepsiCo partnered with Mars and ADM in Poland to support regenerative rapeseed production across 2,160 hectares, part of a broader 5,454-hectare programme involving 24 farmers. Rapeseed is used in food production and as a feedstock for renewable fuels. The collaboration demonstrates how multiple companies can share the cost and expertise needed to shift farming practices within a shared supply chain.

Why regenerative agriculture matters for UK food businesses

UK businesses that source agricultural commodities face increasing pressure to report and reduce Scope 3 emissions. Agriculture contributes a substantial share of global greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through methane from livestock, nitrous oxide from fertilisers and carbon dioxide from land-use change. Therefore, addressing farm-level emissions is essential for any company with food or beverage products in its portfolio.

Regenerative agriculture offers a credible pathway to lower emissions while improving long-term productivity. Healthier soils require less synthetic fertiliser, which reduces both costs and nitrous oxide emissions. Improved water retention helps farms cope with droughts and extreme weather, reducing crop failure risk. Enhanced biodiversity supports pollination and pest control, cutting reliance on chemical inputs.

For SMEs in the food sector, regenerative agriculture also affects procurement and tender competitiveness. Public sector contracts increasingly include sustainability criteria, and corporate buyers are setting supply-chain emissions targets that cascade down to smaller suppliers. Furthermore, businesses that can demonstrate verified emissions reductions in their supply chains gain an advantage in tender processes and retailer scorecards.

PepsiCo’s scale allows the company to invest in farmer training, soil testing and third-party verification. Smaller businesses may lack the resources to run standalone regenerative agriculture programmes, but they can collaborate with industry groups, certification schemes or shared initiatives. Additionally, our sustainable procurement support helps businesses identify lower-emission sourcing options and align supplier engagement with net-zero commitments.

Emissions reductions and the challenge of verification

Both easyJet’s TaxiBot deployment and PepsiCo’s regenerative agriculture strategy rely on emissions calculations that combine measured data with modelling assumptions. For electric taxiing, fuel savings can be measured directly by comparing engine run time and fuel uplift with and without the TaxiBot system. Converting fuel savings to CO2 reductions uses standard emission factors published by aviation regulators.

Regenerative agriculture presents a more complex measurement challenge. Soil carbon sequestration varies depending on soil type, climate, crop selection and management practices. On-farm emissions reductions require baseline measurements, ongoing monitoring and verification protocols. PepsiCo’s reported 1.6 million metric tons of net emissions reduction will include both direct measurements and modelled estimates based on established agricultural research.

Verification matters because carbon reporting is subject to regulatory scrutiny and investor review. Under UK mandatory climate disclosure rules, large companies must report Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions with supporting methodologies. Claims about emissions reductions need to be defensible, particularly where they contribute to published net-zero targets or sustainability-linked financing arrangements.

For UK businesses, this underscores the importance of robust data collection and third-party assurance. Whether the focus is operational emissions or supply-chain interventions, credible reduction claims require clear baselines, consistent measurement and transparent reporting. Our compliance support services help businesses establish reporting frameworks that meet regulatory standards and withstand external review.

Key facts about electric taxiing and regenerative farming

• Amsterdam Schiphol is the first European airport to deploy electric TaxiBot technology for Airbus aircraft operations, with easyJet trialling the system on four A320neo planes.
• easyJet estimates the TaxiBot system will save an average of 95 kilograms of fuel and cut 299 kilograms of CO2 per flight during ground operations.
• Schiphol Airport suggests wider TaxiBot adoption could reduce fuel consumption during taxiing by up to 65 per cent across airport operations.
• PepsiCo aims to expand regenerative, restorative or protective farming practices across 10 million acres by 2030, having reached more than 3.5 million acres by the end of 2024.
• PepsiCo works with approximately 20,000 farmers globally and estimates its regenerative agriculture efforts delivered a net reduction of 1.6 million metric tons of on-farm greenhouse gas emissions in 2024.
• A 2025 collaboration between PepsiCo, Mars and ADM in Poland supports regenerative rapeseed production across 5,454 hectares involving 24 farmers.

What these operational shifts mean for SME sustainability strategies

The common thread between easyJet’s electric taxiing and PepsiCo’s regenerative agriculture is a move from pilot projects to scalable operational change. Both initiatives target high-volume, high-emission activities that occur repeatedly across core business operations. That focus on frequency and scale is what makes these approaches commercially viable rather than just symbolic gestures.

UK SMEs can apply a similar logic to their own decarbonisation strategies. Identifying repetitive processes with measurable emissions allows businesses to calculate the return on investment for efficiency improvements. For example, a logistics company might focus on route optimisation and vehicle idling, while a manufacturer might target compressed air systems or heating controls. The principle remains the same: find the emissions hotspots that happen most often, and address them systematically.

Importantly, both easyJet and PepsiCo are working within existing infrastructure and technology constraints. Electric taxiing does not require new aircraft, and regenerative agriculture does not require new crops. Instead, these approaches change how existing assets and processes are managed. That makes them more accessible to businesses without capital budgets for transformational technology investment.

For SMEs, this is a useful reminder that decarbonisation does not always require wholesale reinvention. Incremental improvements to existing operations can deliver material emissions reductions if applied consistently at scale. Moreover, those improvements often come with cost savings, whether through reduced fuel consumption, lower fertiliser use or improved operational efficiency.

Our net-zero programme helps businesses identify these opportunities through carbon footprint analysis and operational review. We work with SMEs to map emissions sources, quantify reduction potential and prioritise interventions based on cost-effectiveness and strategic fit. The goal is to build a decarbonisation pathway that aligns with business realities rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all template.

Supply chain implications for UK businesses

PepsiCo’s regenerative agriculture strategy highlights a broader challenge for UK businesses: Scope 3 emissions in upstream supply chains. For food, retail and manufacturing companies, purchased goods and services typically account for the majority of total carbon footprint. Addressing those emissions requires engagement with suppliers and, in many cases, changes to sourcing practices.

Regenerative agriculture is one pathway, but it is not the only option. Businesses can also focus on supplier selection, contract specifications, logistics optimisation and material substitution. The key is to move beyond data collection and start influencing supplier behaviour through procurement decisions, technical support or shared investment in emissions reduction projects.

For smaller businesses, the challenge is resource and influence. An SME may lack the purchasing power to set regenerative agriculture requirements for commodity suppliers. However, smaller companies can still make progress by choosing certified products, collaborating with peers through industry groups or working with intermediaries who aggregate demand across multiple buyers.

Public sector suppliers face additional pressure through frameworks like Procurement Policy Note 06/21, which requires carbon reduction plans from suppliers bidding for central government contracts above certain thresholds. Those plans must include Scope 3 commitments, which means businesses need to demonstrate active engagement with their own supply chains. Compliance is not optional, and buyers are starting to evaluate carbon reduction plans more rigorously during tender assessments.

Government policy and regulatory context for operational emissions

Both electric taxiing and regenerative agriculture operate within a policy landscape shaped by net-zero targets, carbon pricing and sector-specific regulations. In aviation, the UK government has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, with interim targets that require airlines to reduce emissions intensity over time. The EU Emissions Trading System covers aviation, creating a direct financial incentive to cut fuel consumption.

Agriculture policy is shifting rapidly following Brexit and the replacement of the Common Agricultural Policy with new environmental land management schemes. The Environmental Land Management scheme in England includes payments for practices that improve soil health, sequester carbon and enhance biodiversity. Similar schemes operate in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These policies create financial support for regenerative agriculture, making the transition more viable for farmers.

For UK businesses, the regulatory direction is clear. Carbon reporting requirements are tightening, carbon pricing is likely to expand, and sustainability criteria are becoming standard in procurement and investment decisions. Businesses that move early to reduce operational emissions and engage with supply-chain decarbonisation will find themselves better positioned for future regulatory changes and market shifts.

The government’s net-zero strategy sets out sector-by-sector pathways to 2050, including specific measures for transport, agriculture and industry. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publishes regular updates on policy development and emissions data. These sources provide context for business planning and help companies anticipate where regulatory pressure will increase over the coming years.

Further information and industry resources

Businesses looking for detailed guidance on aviation emissions reduction can refer to the Civil Aviation Authority’s environmental sustainability hub, which covers reporting requirements, sustainable aviation fuel policy and operational efficiency measures. The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment provides standards and training for environmental professionals working on carbon management and sustainability strategy.

For regenerative agriculture and supply-chain emissions, the Environmental Land Management scheme offers information on available support for farmers adopting lower-emission practices. The Sustainable Food Trust publishes research and case studies on regenerative farming systems and their climate impact.

Businesses needing support with carbon footprint measurement, Scope 3 reporting or supplier engagement can contact our team to discuss how our services align with specific operational needs and regulatory obligations.