Diageo, the British-founded multinational alcoholic beverage company, has today announced an open invitation call until the 20th of March 2024 to enhance water use across its supply chain. The company is seeking five innovations to reduce and more effectively manage water usage throughout Diageo’s global supply chain. Areas for improvement include water efficiency in operations, maximizing wastewater streams, reducing water use in ingredient sourcing, water efficiency in agricultural operations, and improving water use across the hospitality sector.
The open call is part of the company’s Sustainable Solutions programme, an in-house fund supporting external innovative technologies that can assist the company in achieving its 10-year sustainability goals outlined in its ESG action plan, Society 2030: Spirit of Progress.
Ewan Andrew, President of Global Supply and Procurement and Chief Sustainability Officer, said: “Water is our most important resource at Diageo for our communities, our operations, and our products. Diageo Sustainable Solutions gives us a unique opportunity to search far and wide externally to connect with fast-moving innovators who can challenge our status quo and scale their technology.”
Recognizing the need for external collaboration, Diageo’s Sustainable Solutions programme is eager to work with external innovators to help the company reach its ambitious sustainability targets by 2030. The company currently has 14 pilots across the company from previous challenges on packaging, agriculture, and carbon.
John Cant, Head of Diageo Sustainable Solutions, said: “Our Diageo Sustainable Solutions programme gives us the unique opportunity to work closely with innovators and start-ups in a collaborative way to test their technology within our supply chain. We will give successful innovators the platform to pilot, the investment to scale if successful at the pilot, and throughout the process, we’ll support the innovators with our expertise and resources for success.”
Diageo believes responsible water management is central to its operations. The water innovation challenge addresses five different points across Diageo’s supply chain where the company would benefit from innovation and new technology. The five challenges will focus on:
Improving water efficiency in Diageo’s own operations and those of its manufacturing suppliers, seeking solutions that bring step-change improvements in water efficiency.
Maximizing the value of Diageo’s waste streams, looking for solutions applicable to Diageo’s distillation and brewing operations to upcycle wastewater into additional products or services.
Minimizing the climate and water risks of the ingredients Diageo sources and uses. Seeking new and complementary blue-sky technology solutions to support Diageo’s growth ambition while preserving existing agricultural supply chains, aiming to find additional sources of ingredients with reduced water usage and water quality effects.
Improving water efficiency in agricultural operations, seeking solutions to help Diageo reduce water impact and make existing agricultural processes more efficient.
Improving water use across the hospitality sector, looking for creative solutions within a bar, restaurant, or pub setting to reduce water usage wherever water is used to consume Diageo products – including shaking cocktails, serving drinks, glassware, ice to chill before filling.
Applications for the water challenges are now open until 20th March 2024. All applications will be reviewed by the internal Diageo Sustainable Solutions team, and if successful, applicants will be invited to a Select Committee to present their innovation/technology.
Source: https://www.diageo.com/en/news-and-media/press-releases/2024/diageo-launches-open-innovation-call-to-improve-water-use-across-its-supply-chain
