Diageo Publishes Its First Sustainable Packaging Guidelines

December 15, 2011

Diageo has published its first Sustainable Packaging Guidelines, which the company said reflects its commitment to a holistic approach to reduce its overall impact on the environment across the supply chain -- from barley for the breweries to the bottles in a case.

“Packaging is vital in delivering and protecting our valuable brands -- and increasingly customers and consumers are demanding more sustainable packs from all leading consumer goods companies,” said Andy Fennell, CMO. “Walmart, for example, has established a comprehensive packaging scorecard on which suppliers are evaluated. These new guidelines will be adopted throughout our business to ensure we drive year-on-year improvements. ”

The guidelines, developed by a cross functional team, define Diageo’s approach to sustainable packaging based on the common principles of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ and include examples of best practice as well as recognition that working with suppliers and other stakeholders is key to delivering its ambitions.

“This is an important milestone that will ensure a consistent approach to developing new packaging and reviewing existing packs,” said David Gosnell, president global supply and procurement. “The guidelines will not only help us meet our stretching sustainable packaging targets for 2015 but also support our engagement with customers and consumers – and further embed our position as corporate leaders in environmental sustainability.”

Diageo’s commitment to sustainable packaging includes identifying the potential for light weighting packaging, increasing the use of recycled content and optimizing packaging for recycling or reuse.

Diageo brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray and Guinness.

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Keywords: supply chain, sustainable packaging

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