Diageo, the multinational whisky and spirit distributor, has announced the provision of seed funding for the not-for-profit research and technology organisation Glass Futures Limited, enabling them to expand their activities into North America and India. Glass Futures Limited is currently investigating the best method to decarbonise the glass industry, and this new funding will allow the company to explore new ways to further reduce glass carbon emissions in both markets.
Andy Griffiths, Head of Sustainable Procurement at Diageo, said: “We’re looking forward to expanding our partnership with Glass Futures into North America and India to explore lower-carbon glass production. This is key for the success of Diageo’s and the wider glass industry’s decarbonisation efforts. Partnering on innovative approaches is vital to making a net-zero world a reality, and we are hopeful that this collaboration will bring great results in other markets going forward.”
Glass is a recyclable product, but the carbon footprint it makes in production is a challenge across a range of industries. This new investment will not only enable Glass Futures Limited to expand its operations and impact but also help Diageo reach its goal of reducing Scope 3 carbon emissions by 50% (against its 2020 baseline) by 2030. As two of Diageo’s largest markets, North America and India offer the company a chance to significantly impact its carbon emission goals.
This isn’t the first time that Glass Futures Limited has partnered with Diageo. In 2021, Glass Futures, Diageo, and Encirc trialled the use of waste-based biofuel-powered furnaces for Diageo’s Black & White Scotch whisky brand in the UK, reducing their carbon footprint by 90%.
Hallam Wheatley, Collaboration Lead at Glass Futures, said: “Diageo’s support from the very beginning has engendered many successes to date and manifested in Diageo becoming the first brand partner to sign onto our new level of Strategic membership.
“The need to accelerate international decarbonisation and a circular economy across the entire packaging supply chain has resulted in Diageo’s investment over the next two years for further outreach into North America and India. Glass Futures’ in-house expertise, cross-sector working, and unique networks across the glass supply chain are key to increasing glass circularity for the global industry.”
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