Objective

Diageo takes great care in building sustainable supply chains and works hard to protect the natural resources it relies on.

As Europe's largest spirits provider, Diageo understands that is has a responsability to play a positive role in society. As a company, Diageo is committed to pioneering grain-to-glass sustainability, from the barely and raw materials harvested by its farmers and the water it uses in its distilleries, to the bbars that pour it drinks. 

Description

1) Reducing carbon emission: Diageo believes it can grow its business while reducing the carbon emissions associated with its value chain, as well as reducing exposure to the risks of energy insecurity and rising costs. 

• Working with farmers to help optimise how they grow the ingredients: 
  • For instance, in Ireland Diageo worked with cream suppliers to develop a sustainable cream initiative which includes addressing animal health and welfare, biodiversity, water use and reducing carbon emissions.
  • For whisky production, Diageo works with barley suppliers to help them use the right amount of fertilisers, which can reduce the carbon footprint of a crop by 20%.

•  Energy saving and use of renewable sources: 
  • At one of the sites in Ireland where Baileys is produced, Diageo has invested in new technologies to reduce electricity and gas consumption. As a result of this investment, over 120 tonnes of carbon were saved. 
  • Through investments at the Talisker distillery on the Isle of Skye Diageo has improved the energy efficiency of site operations and reduced energy demand by over 10%.

2) Reducing Water use: : Water is the most important ingredient but is also a precious shared resource. Managing the impact on water, and being good stewards of this resource, is Diageo’s highest environmental priority.

•  Working with farmers to use water wisely: 
  • Water is used in the supply chain for ingredients such as milk, used in Baileys. Producing a litre of milk in Ireland can require up to 690 litres of water, roughly the same amount of water as 9 bathtubs. Diageo is committed to working with farmers in Ireland to help improve water efficiency and quality, including through the sustainable cream initiative.
  • Water is also used to grow the barley for whisky. Growing a tonne of barley can require up to 1,000,000 litres of water. That is nearly 1/2 of an Olympic swimming pool. Recognising that climate change will impact crop production, Diageo is committed to working with farmers around the world to help improve water efficiency.

• Improving water efficiency in our distilleries:
  • At one of the sites in Ireland where Baileys is produced, Diageo has reduced its annual water consumption by 10 million litres over the last two years. In addition to saving water, this also reduces the amount of electricity needed to produce Baileys.
  • Through investments at the Talisker distillery on the Isle of Skye, Diageo has improved the energy efficiency of site operations and reduced energy demand by over 10%. The distillery uses sea water in its cooling process, reducing water taken from the environment and helping the distillery to run more efficiently.
  • At the Roseisle distillery in Scotland, Diageo is saving enough water in the making of Scotch to fill the equivalent of 28 Olympic swimming pools and the distillery collects surface rainwater to improve the water quality before it is returned to the environment.

Results

Review of key achievement on carbon, water, packaging and plastic packaging commitments here.

Website

https://www.diageo.com/en/in-society/reducing-our-environmental-impact/

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