Water and Wastewater

A reliable source of water is essential to our business - we use it as an ingredient and also for cooling and cleaning. Water resources are under pressure from development in many parts of the world and climatic changes may restrict availability still further in the future. We have completed a water survey at each production site to identify where technology and ways of working can be improved to achieve best practice in water management.

Our target for water is to increase water efficiency in our operations by 30%, including reducing 'water wasted' by 50% at our operations located in water stressed geographies between 2007 and 2015. Our target for wastewater is to reduce the polluting power (measured by BOD) by 60% over this period.

Diageo's water use:

At Beaulieu Vineyards in California, new barrel washers and recycling techniques have saved 3,800 cubic metres of water a year

An innovative design at our bottling plant in Huntingwood, Australia allows the site to reuse water in vacuum pumps, saving over 18,000 cubic metres a year. The idea is now being adopted by other Diageo sites. Huntingwood is world-class for its highly efficient water use and has been recognized for its leadership on water by the City of Sydney.

 Diageo is a signatory to the CEO Water Mandate. The mandate is a call to action on water issues: sustainable use, conservation, community engagement and reporting. By endorsing the mandate we have pledged to continue to improve our own performance in these areas, encouraging commercial partners and others also to sign up.

Wastewater polluting power:

Turning wastewater into energy

Our new bioenergy plant at cameronbridge is part of a development that will divert spent grain and wastewater to make the site largely self-sufficient. The plant will generate 98% of thermal steam and 80% of electrical power used at the site.