A water brand is to roll out canned water in an attempt to reduce its reliance on plastic.

PepsiCo says its Aquafina brand will offer aluminium can packaging in US food outlets.

The changes, which go into effect next year, are expected to eliminate more than 8,000 metric tons of virgin plastic and approximately 11,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

PepsiCo has set a goal to make 100% of its packaging recyclable, compostable or biodegradable by 2025.

It also wants to use 25% recycled plastic content in all its plastic packaging.

PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta says: "Tackling plastic waste is one of my top priorities and I take this challenge personally.

"As one of the world's leading food and beverage companies, we recognise the significant role PepsiCo can play in helping to change the way society makes, uses, and disposes of plastics.

"We are doing our part to address the issue head on by reducing, recycling and reinventing our packaging to make it more sustainable, and we won't stop until we live in a world where plastics are renewed and reused."

PepsiCo products are distributed in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.

The company opened an R&D centre in Little Island, Co Cork back in 2012 as part of a €10m investment in its Irish operations.

The facility was billed as allowing PepsiCo to create "a critical, sustainable competitive advantage" through new and innovative products.

Its products include Pepsi, 7-Up, Tropicana, Mountain Dew, Lipton, Gatorade, Aquafina, Walkers Crisps, Doritos and Quaker Oats.

PepsiCo Ireland makes drink concentrates for European markets and employs over 600 people here.