Diageo pledges commitment to sustainable packaging as it marks World Environment Day

Drinks maker Diageo Plc, celebrated World Environment Day on Monday with a renewed commitment to sustainable packaging.

The maker of Johnnie Walker pledged to increase its use of recyclable plastic packaging in place of glass bottles in a bid to meet its 2020 sustainability and responsibility targets.

In a supplemental plastic guideline released by the drinks maker titled Sustainable Packaging Commitments: Supplementary Guideline on Plastics, the firm vowed to increase its use of alternative materials and formats as part of its innovation agenda.

The company noted that over 90% of its packaging (by weight) is made from glass. However, it promised to reduce this as it targets 100% recyclable or compostable packaging by 2020. It plans to introduce Pet bottles, plastic closures, Tetra Pak cartons, multilayer pouches, sachets and other small formats plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP).

“Using PET instead of glass can provide sustainability benefits, for example by reducing the weight of packaging and associated carbon emissions from transport,” the company said.

The company also said it was seeking “more sustainable alternatives” for its source of PET, including plant-based PET manufactured from bio-based raw materials.

“We are committed to working with waste experts, consumer goods companies, governments and other stakeholders to find transformative recycling solutions,” said David Cutter, Diageo’s president of global supply and procurement.

“We also aim to engage consumers and governments to increase the supply of recycled PET by collaborating and promoting recycling and recycling infrastructure. It is our responsibility to work with others to make it as easy as possible for consumers to recycle packaging once they have purchased and used our products,” he said.

Michael Alexander, Diageo’s Global Sustainability Manager added, “These new guidelines demonstrate our ever-increasing commitment to becoming a more sustainable consumer goods company with a keen awareness of the environmental impact of our business and how to limit that impact.”

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