Diageo achieves zero waste to landfill status, recycling goals as part of sustainability focus

Diageo, the London-based maker of Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Guinness, published its 2020 Sustainability and Responsibility Goals report on Aug. 10. Originally set in 2008, and refreshed in 2015, the report highlights the company’s goals for becoming a more sustainable company.

According to the organization, Diageo was among the first companies to set its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets in line with the principles of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and was an early adopter of absolute, rather than relative, GHG reduction targets.

Regarding water stewardship, Diageo was appointed a Global Goals Business Avenger in 2019 as the business champion for UN Sustainable Development Goal 6: “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.” This financial year, Diageo has replenished the equivalent of 560 Olympic-sized swimming pools in water-stressed areas. 

“As we close our 2020 targets, we are incredibly proud of the progress we have made and [we are] grateful to our employees and selected partners who have helped us deliver transformational progress. Through our programs, we have made a positive impact on millions of people in communities all around the world. 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, driven by the knowledge that our future success is intertwined with the success of the living planet around us,” Diageo Chief Sustainability Officer Ewan Andrew says.

The 2020 targets were selected to align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and designed to cover Diageo’s main focus areas, including reducing environmental impact and building thriving communities.

Key highlights of the report include:

• The company has cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from direct operations by 509,000 metric tons since its baseline year of 2007, delivering on its commitment to reduce absolute emissions by 50 percent.
• The company has reduced emissions by 33.7 percent across its total value chain since its baseline year of 2007, going beyond its original 30 percent target.
• In water-stressed areas, the company has replenished 100 percent of the water used in its final product.
• The company has ensured that over 99.5 percent of its packaging is recyclable and the company has achieved 45 percent recycled content in its packaging.
• The company has achieved zero waste to landfill status in all operational sites and offices.
• Supported more than 250,000 people through its projects focused on clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in 2020.

The full report can be accessed here.