Beam Suntory is to invest around US$1bn in a company-wide sustainability strategy, revealed today.
The US-headquartered brand owner said this week that its ‘Proof Positive’ sustainability strategy includes aims such as surpassing net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and reducing total water usage by 50%. The targets are split over three tiers:
- ‘Nature Positive’: Achieve 100% recyclable packaging and 40% recycled materials by weight across the packaging portfolio, as well as planting 500,000 trees globally per year
- ‘Consumer Positive’: Reduce levels of harmful drinking through a $500m boost to the company’s Drink Smart education platform and offer more low- or no-abv products, and
- ‘Community Positive’: Among other ambitions, the group hopes to achieve 50% of leadership roles filled by women and 45% racially and ethnically diverse employee representation in the US by 2030
Commenting on the announcement, CEO Albert Baladi said an environmentally positive impact is a “must-do for … our business and humanity”.
“Proof Positive is inspired by [parent company] Suntory’s vision of ‘Growing for Good’ and represents a step-change in our sustainability ambitions,” Baladi said. “Proof Positive is a critical roadmap towards 2030, 2040 and beyond for how we will positively impact the environment, our consumers and our communities.”
Last week, the company hired a former digital innovation specialist at Diageo, Venky Iyer, to the newly-created position of VP for digital products & experience.
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