Drinks giant Diageo produces a huge amount of packaging. Packaging is one of the areas the company is focusing on in its efforts to reduce Scope 3 emissions.
Dave Lutkenhaus (Diageo's Global Director of Innovation and Sustainability) presented the most effective ways to reduce packaging emissions at FoodNavigator's Climate Smart Food Summit, a leading industry event.
What is Diageo's plan to reduce Scope 3 emissions?
Lutkenhaus estimates that packaging accounts for about a third of companies' Scope 3 emissions. Reducing packaging emissions is not insignificant for Lutkenhaus.
Diageo is reducing the packaging it uses and changing its materials. It is currently testing paper packaging. Lutkenhaus, the company spokesperson, told us it recently tried a paper packaging for Baileys Minis. The packaging is made of 90% paper with a thin plastic liner and a foil-sealed seal.
According to Lutkenhaus, Baileys Minis used original PET plastic, which reduced carbon emissions by 50%.
Diageo also wants to reduce the use of single-use plastic. Diageo has partnered with Ecosprits to develop technology for key brands such as Smirnoff's, Captain Morgan's or Gordon's. Drinks will be delivered to bars in an Ecotote container, which can be reused up to 150 times. According to Lutkenhaus, it can save more than 1,000 glass bottles over its lifetime.
Why is Diageo looking for lighter packaging?
Diageo’s goal is to reduce packaging weight by 10 % by 2030. According to Lutkenhaus, weight is a key element of sustainability. It’s an indicator of packaging reduction and, as we’ve seen, it also represents a reduction in carbon emissions.
The benefits of lighter packaging go beyond that. He said lighter packaging is more convenient. We are always looking to provide a benefit to the consumer.
What is Diageo’s global strategy for packaging sustainability?
Diageo is a global company that operates in markets all over the world. It has to comply with many different recycling laws. What are its strategies for dealing with them?
Lutkenhaus said: “As we all know, recycling laws can vary greatly depending on where you live. That’s why our teams in the market work closely together.”
There are two challenges. Diageo must not only understand the recycling regulations in the region in which it operates, but also the actual practicalities of recycling. Lutkenhaus said innovation teams need to know the local infrastructure so they can ensure products are recyclable in the region.
Diageo has partnered with the NGO Wrap to gain more insight into the infrastructure in the regions where it operates and to improve its recycling capacity in these regions.
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