PURCHASE, N.Y. — In a drive to reduce the packaging of its products, PepsiCo. will unveil a new bottle this month that will be made with 20 percent less plastic and sport a trimmed label size.

The announcement comes as the beverage sector battles a backlash over the waste and greenhouse gas emissions associated with its products. For example, some cities, such as San Francisco, have banned the purchase of bottled water with municipal funds.

In Pepsi’s case, the new 500 ml bottles will be used in 12-packs and 24-packs of non-carbonated products, such as Lipton Iced Tea, Tropicana juice drinks, Aquafina Alive and Aquafina FlavorSplash. The multi-packs also will require 5 percent less shrink wrap film.

"The challenge was to deliver significantly lighter packaging that would provide the same shelf life as the heavier bottle, withstand the manufacturing and distribution process yet not compromise aesthetics," said Robert Lewis, vice president of PepsiCo’s worldwide beverage packaging and equipment development. "After a full year of hard work from multiple corners of the company, we hit the trifecta -- a bottle that satisfied the needs of our system, our consumers and the environment.”

The packaging effort is part of the company’s “Performance with Purpose” mission to fuel sustainable growth through supporting its employees and communities and reducing environmental impacts related to water, energy and packaging.