Diageo – the British multinational beverage alcohol company responsible for producing Guinness, Johnnie Walker, and Smirnoff – has delivered on its environmental commitments. It met its 2020 emissions target, which was selected to align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and principles of the Science-Based Targets initiative.
The Corporation reduced its absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% and its total value chain emissions by 33.7% (against a 2007 baseline). The only target it did not reach was reducing the overall weight of its packaging by 15% – achieving only an 11% reduction.
A few other sustainability achievements include:
- It replenished 100% of the water used in water-stressed areas.
- It has ensured that more than 99.5% of its packaging is recyclable.
- It achieved 45% recycled content in its packaging.
- All operational sites and offices send zero waste to landfills.
- Two hundred fifty thousand people were supported in 2020 through projects focused on clean water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Also, it’s investing in innovative new material. Its brand Johnnie Walker will trial a 100% plastic-free paper bottle in 2021. The first-of-its-kind packaging is made entirely of wood pulp with no plastic film whatsoever.
Ewan Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer at Diageo, proudly commented:
As we close our 2020 targets, we are incredibly proud of the progress we have made and grateful to our employees and selected partners who have helped us deliver transformational progress. We have been agile and moved quickly to adapt to the global changes around us. We are excited about the decade of action ahead and will continue to lead the way.
Now that the 2020 targets have been met, the company is planning a new set of targets for 2030, which it will announce in the coming months. Diageo said that a critical focus point now will be to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to global warming.
