Living a Spirit of Commitment

Brown-Forman
European Union
2021 > Ongoing
#C02Emissions #Packaging #WaterUse

Objective

Caring for natural resources and the climate is more than a business concern for us. From the fields that grow our grains, agave, and grapes, to the water we transform into our spirits, to the oak for our barrels, we depend on the earth’s bounty. It’s about committing to the environment that sustains us, caring for the resources we share with our community, and nurturing what we have for those that come after us.

In fiscal year 2021, we established ambitious new sustainability commitments that are intended to align our efforts with industry best practices and the most current climate change science. Our environmental commitments  serve as a roadmap in advancing sustainability, reducing the company’s environmental footprint, and increasing its positive impact on the community and environment.

Description

Sustainability Targets include:

Climate Action

  • 50% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030.
  • Achieve net-zero GHG emissions in our operations and supply chain by 2045.
  • Source 100% of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030.

Water Stewardship

  • 100% of our high-risk and business critical watersheds achieve water balance by 2030.

Circularity

  • Integrate circular economy principles into business processes across the organization by 2030.

Sustainable Packaging

  • By 2030, 100% of primary packaging will be recyclable or reusable.

Sustainable Agriculture

  • 100% engagement with direct farmers around regenerative agriculture practices by 2025.

Sustainable Forestry

  • 50% of logs purchased will be from proven sustainably managed forests by 2035.

Partners

  • Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER)
  • Ceres
  • Dendrifund
  • RE100
  • Scotch Whisky Association

Results

In Fiscal Year 2022:

  • GHG emissions were reduced by 27.8%.
  • Energy use was reduced by 10.7%.
  • Water use was reduced by 7%.
  • More than 99% of the waste generated by Brown-Forman’s facilities is diverted from landfills.
  • We created a Sustainable Packaging Council that meets regularly to discuss ways to improve packaging sustainability and glass use. As a result of this team’s work, sustainability considerations are now part of all packaging design briefs.

In Fiscal Year 2021:

  • 84% of electricity was from renewable sources.
  • Brown-Forman is a founding member of the White Oak Initiative, which works to ensure the long-term sustainability of America’s white oak forests that are required in the making of our barrels. In Fiscal Year 2022, the White Oak Initiative completed an assessment and conservation plan that outlines threats to America’s white oak forests and the steps that can be taken to prevent their decline.

Measurement & evaluation

As part of our overall commitment to strong environmental practices, Brown‑Forman holds itself accountable to global aspirations like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The baseline for Brown‑Forman’s Sustainability Goals come from the 2020 Fiscal Year and reporting will follow the company’s fiscal year financial reporting.   

Brown-Forman’s climate action progress is evaluated by CDP annually. Additionally, we report in accordance with GRI and SASB on broader sustainability topics, which are publicly available documents. Our progress is also reported in an annual ESG Scorecard and Annual Report, both available on our website.

Website

https://www.brown-forman.com/environmental-sustainability

Downloads

Videos

Sustainability Celebration

Photo gallery

Documents

Brown-Forman ESG Report 2022.pdf (pdf - 8.04 Mo)