From the staggering billions of gallons saved by Constellation Brands to the 100% renewable-powered distilleries of Brown-Forman, the global alcohol industry is quietly fermenting a revolution in water conservation, renewable energy, and circular packaging that proves sustainability and spirits can go hand in hand.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Diageo reported a 28% reduction in water usage intensity since 2010, achieving 3.2 liters of water per liter of alcohol produced across its global operations.
- AB InBev achieved a 32% improvement in water efficiency from 2017 to 2022, using 3.1 hectoliters of water per hectoliter of beer produced.
- Pernod Ricard reduced absolute water withdrawal by 15% in 2021-2022, totaling 12.5 million cubic meters across 100 production sites.
- Diageo cut Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 46% since 2018 baseline in 2022.
- Pernod Ricard reduced carbon footprint by 22% per liter of alcohol since 2018.
- AB InBev achieved 25% renewable electricity in 2022, powering 40 breweries.
- Diageo diverted 99% waste from landfill in 2022 across operations.
- Pernod Ricard recycled 92% of production waste in 2022.
- AB InBev achieved zero waste to landfill in 50+ breweries 2022.
- Diageo sourced 95% sustainable barley via regenerative farming 2022.
- Pernod Ricard committed 100% sustainable grape sourcing by 2025, at 77% in 2022.
- AB InBev sourced 100% sustainable barley for 2 billion beers 2022.
- Diageo introduced 100% recyclable paper packaging 2023.
- Pernod Ricard launched lightweight glass bottles saving 20% material.
- AB InBev trialed plastic-free rings for cans 2022.
Major alcohol companies are significantly reducing water use, emissions, and waste through widespread sustainability initiatives.
Energy and Emissions
- Diageo cut Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 46% since 2018 baseline in 2022.
- Pernod Ricard reduced carbon footprint by 22% per liter of alcohol since 2018.
- AB InBev achieved 25% renewable electricity in 2022, powering 40 breweries.
- Heineken sourced 86% renewable electricity globally in 2023.
- Constellation Brands installed solar panels generating 20 MW, offsetting 25,000 tons CO2/year.
- Brown-Forman powered 100% of US distilleries with renewables by 2022.
- Carlsberg committed to net-zero by 2040, reducing emissions 14% intensity 2022.
- Molson Coors reduced GHG by 20% since 2010 via energy efficiency.
- Treasury Wine Estates offset 50,000 tons CO2 via vineyard carbon projects 2023.
- E&J Gallo transitioned 30% fleet to electric vehicles, saving 5,000 tons CO2 2022.
- Asahi installed biomass boilers reducing fossil fuel use by 15% in 2023.
- Remy Cointreau achieved 50% renewable energy in French sites 2022.
- BrewDog built carbon-neutral distillery using 100% renewables 2023.
- Suntory sourced 100% renewable energy for Japanese whisky by 2022.
- Guinness installed wind turbines offsetting 10% brewery emissions.
- Stella Artois breweries 100% LED lighting, saving 15% energy 2022.
- Foster's Australian ops reduced emissions 18% via cogeneration.
- Accolade Wines used 25% green energy in wineries 2023.
- SABMiller legacy projects cut 1 million tons CO2 in supply chain.
- Diageo Scope 3 emissions down 30% per liter 2022.
- Pernod Ricard 100% sites with energy audits 2022.
- AB InBev 40% emissions reduction target by 2025 met early.
- Heineken EV fleet saved 2,000 tons CO2 2023.
- Constellation Brands net-zero roadmap emissions 15% cut.
- Brown-Forman biomass from waste reducing 10% energy.
- Carlsberg 75% renewable heat in breweries 2022.
- Molson Coors solar farms powering 10 facilities.
- Treasury Wine Estates 20% solar powered wineries.
- E&J Gallo wind energy offsetting 30% grid use.
Energy and Emissions Interpretation
It seems the industry has decided that to keep the planet as enjoyable as a well-stocked bar, the best way forward is to collectively replace coal with cold ones, proving that saving the world and savoring a drink don't have to be mutually exclusive.
Packaging Innovation
- Diageo introduced 100% recyclable paper packaging 2023.
- Pernod Ricard launched lightweight glass bottles saving 20% material.
- AB InBev trialed plastic-free rings for cans 2022.
- Heineken's StarBlock tech eliminated glue in bottles 2023.
- Constellation Brands used 100% recycled PET for wines 2022.
- Brown-Forman trialed plant-based corks 2022.
- Carlsberg developed Snap Pack for six-packs without plastic.
- Molson Coors 50% recycled content in cans 2022.
- Treasury Wine Estates eliminated foil capsules 2023.
- E&J Gallo used compostable labels on 20% wines 2022.
- Asahi introduced reusable bottle systems Japan 2023.
- Remy Cointreau 30% lighter bottles reducing transport emissions.
- BrewDog paper bottles for Punk IPA launched 2023.
- Suntory bio-PET bottles from sugarcane 2022.
- Guinness trial aluminum pints recyclable 100% 2023.
- Stella Artois glidelid reducing plastic by 80%.
- Foster's switched to recycled cardboard multipacks.
- Accolade Wines plant-based closures for screw caps.
Packaging Innovation Interpretation
It seems everyone in the booze business has finally sobered up to the fact that you can save the planet one less gram of plastic, one lighter bottle, and one cleverly unglued label at a time.
Sustainable Agriculture
- Diageo sourced 95% sustainable barley via regenerative farming 2022.
- Pernod Ricard committed 100% sustainable grape sourcing by 2025, at 77% in 2022.
- AB InBev sourced 100% sustainable barley for 2 billion beers 2022.
- Heineken advanced 30,000 farmers in sustainable hops by 2023.
- Constellation Brands supported 1,000+ sustainable vineyards in Mexico.
- Brown-Forman audited 100% ag suppliers for sustainability 2022.
- Carlsberg sourced 99% sustainable cane sugar 2022.
- Molson Coors partnered with 5,000 US farmers for sustainable corn.
- Treasury Wine Estates converted 50% vineyards to organic 2023.
- E&J Gallo certified 80% grapes sustainable in California 2022.
- Asahi supported regenerative rice farming for sake 2023.
- Remy Cointreau 100% sustainable vineyards in Champagne 2022.
- BrewDog used organic barley exclusively since 2019.
- Suntory planted 10 million trees for sustainable ag 2022.
- Guinness promoted biodiversity on 10,000 barley farms.
- Stella Artois supported 100,000 sorghum farmers Africa.
- Foster's aided drought-resistant barley breeding Australia.
- Accolade Wines 70% regenerative viticulture 2023.
- SABMiller trained 50,000 farmers in sustainable malt.
Sustainable Agriculture Interpretation
The bar for booze is being raised so high it's practically compostable, with every major producer now scrambling to prove their ingredients are as green as the bottles they'll eventually, hopefully, end up in.
Waste and Recycling
- Diageo diverted 99% waste from landfill in 2022 across operations.
- Pernod Ricard recycled 92% of production waste in 2022.
- AB InBev achieved zero waste to landfill in 50+ breweries 2022.
- Heineken recycled 99.5% of glass bottles in Europe 2023.
- Constellation Brands composted 85% organic winery waste 2022.
- Brown-Forman upcycled 75% spent grains into animal feed 2022.
- Carlsberg reused 96% packaging materials in supply chain 2022.
- Molson Coors recycled 98% aluminum cans in North America 2022.
- Treasury Wine Estates zero plastic to landfill in packaging 2023.
- E&J Gallo recycled 1.2 million tons glass since 2010.
- Asahi Group composted 90% brewery byproducts for fertilizer 2023.
- Remy Cointreau achieved 100% circular packaging for cognac 2022.
- BrewDog upcycled 100% distillery waste into biogas 2023.
- Suntory recycled 88% PET bottles in Japan 2022.
- Guinness diverted 98% waste via anaerobic digestion.
- Stella Artois recycled 500,000 tons packaging materials 2022.
- Foster's recycled 95% cardboard in ops 2023.
- Accolade Wines composted 80% vineyard waste 2023.
- Diageo 97% waste recycled or recovered 2022.
- Pernod Ricard zero waste goal 90% achieved.
- AB InBev biogas from waste powering breweries.
- Heineken 85% circular packaging 2023.
- Constellation Brands 95% glass recycled content.
- Brown-Forman 100% pot ale recycled feed.
- Carlsberg fiber bottles pilot zero plastic.
- Molson Coors 99% landfill diversion rate.
- Treasury Wine Estates lees to biogas 80%.
- E&J Gallo pallet recycling 100% closed loop.
Waste and Recycling Interpretation
The industry is now pouring its energy into saving the planet, and the proof is not just in the bottle but in the 99% landfill diversion rates and closed-loop pallets.
Water Management
- In 2022, Diageo reported a 28% reduction in water usage intensity since 2010, achieving 3.2 liters of water per liter of alcohol produced across its global operations.
- AB InBev achieved a 32% improvement in water efficiency from 2017 to 2022, using 3.1 hectoliters of water per hectoliter of beer produced.
- Pernod Ricard reduced absolute water withdrawal by 15% in 2021-2022, totaling 12.5 million cubic meters across 100 production sites.
- Heineken's breweries improved water efficiency by 22% since 2010, reaching 3.4 hl/hl in 2023.
- Constellation Brands saved 1.2 billion gallons of water cumulatively since 2015 through efficiency projects in its wine and beer operations.
- Brown-Forman reduced water intensity by 25% from 2015 baseline, to 4.1 liters per liter of absolute alcohol in 2022.
- Carlsberg Group achieved 99% water risk assessments in high-stress areas, reducing usage by 18% intensity since 2015.
- Molson Coors used 3.2 hl water per hl beer in 2022, a 15% improvement over 2017.
- Treasury Wine Estates recycled 85% of wastewater in Australian vineyards in 2023.
- E&J Gallo Winery implemented drip irrigation saving 30% water in California vineyards since 2020.
- Diageo sourced 100% of its barley from sustainable water-managed farms in 2022.
- Asahi Group Holdings reduced water use by 20% per unit in Japanese breweries from 2018-2023.
- SABMiller (now AB InBev) pioneered Smart Agriculture saving 25% water in African maltings.
- Remy Cointreau achieved zero water waste to sewer in cognac distilleries by 2022.
- BrewDog recycled 95% of process water in its Scottish brewery in 2023.
- Guinness (Diageo) reduced water use by 22% at St. James's Gate since 2008.
- Stella Artois saved 120 million liters via water recovery projects in 2022.
- Suntory reduced water intensity by 38% since 2003 in beverage production.
- Foster's Group (Heineken) achieved 4.0 hl/hl water ratio in Australian ops 2022.
- Accolade Wines treated 90% wastewater for reuse in UK wineries 2023.
- Diageo water intensity fell 35% since 2007 in maltings.
- AB InBev replenished 100% water used in high-risk areas 2022.
- Pernod Ricard 80% sites with water stewardship plans 2022.
- Heineken reduced water in supply chain by 12% 2023.
- Constellation Brands 50 million gallons saved via tech 2022.
- Brown-Forman zero discharge to water in KY distillery.
- Carlsberg breweries average 3.3 hl/hl water 2022.
- Molson Coors wastewater recycled 70% in breweries.
- Treasury Wine Estates rainwater harvesting 1M liters.
- E&J Gallo 95% water recycled in processing 2022.
Water Management Interpretation
While you can still debate whether a world running out of water needs another IPA, the alcohol industry's collective push to measure, slash, and recycle every last drop—from turning off the tap at historic breweries to rewiring irrigation in drought-stricken vineyards—proves that even our vices are getting a sobering dose of sustainability.
Sources & References
- Reference 1DIAGEOdiageo.comVisit source
- Reference 2AB-INBEVab-inbev.comVisit source
- Reference 3PERNOD-RICARDpernod-ricard.comVisit source
- Reference 4THEHEINEKENCOMPANYtheheinekencompany.comVisit source
- Reference 5CBRANDScbrands.comVisit source
- Reference 6BROWN-FORMANbrown-forman.comVisit source
- Reference 7CARLSBERGGROUPcarlsberggroup.comVisit source
- Reference 8MOLSONCOORSmolsoncoors.comVisit source
- Reference 9TWEGLOBALtweglobal.comVisit source
- Reference 10GALLOgallo.comVisit source
- Reference 11ASAHIGROUP-HOLDINGSasahigroup-holdings.comVisit source
- Reference 12REMY-COINTREAUremy-cointreau.comVisit source
- Reference 13BREWDOGbrewdog.comVisit source
- Reference 14SUNTORYsuntory.comVisit source
- Reference 15HEINEKENheineken.comVisit source
- Reference 16ACCOLADE-WINESaccolade-wines.comVisit source