Find the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about our ESG work.
What ESG issues are the most important to Diageo?
The most material issues facing our company, people, brands, suppliers and communities include positive drinking, inclusion and diversity, and sustainability. These priorities are addressed in our 'Society 2030: Spirit of progress' action plan.
What is Diageo's ESG policy?
Our ESG policy, 'Society 2030: Spirit of Progress', is a 10-year action plan to help create a more inclusive and sustainable world. It has three priorities at its heart: to promote positive drinking, champion inclusion and diversity and pioneer grain-to-glass sustainability. It's underpinned by our commitment to doing business the right way.
What are Diageo's ESG targets?
We have 25 targets that underpin our ESG action plan, 'Society 2030: Spirit of Progress'. All targets are mapped to the objectives and timeline of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Our 2030 ESG targets include:
- Champion health literacy and tackle harm through DRINKiQ in every market where we live, work, source and sell
- Champion gender diversity with an ambition to achieve 50% representation of women in leadership roles by 2030*
- Champion ethnic diversity with an ambition to increase representation of leaders from ethnically diverse backgrounds to 45% by 2030*
- Reduce water use in our operations with a 40% improvement in water use efficiency in water stressed areas and 30% improvement across the company
- Become net zero carbon in our direct operations (Scopes 1 and 2)
- Achieve zero waste in our direct operations and zero waste to landfill in our supply chain
* Statements on representation are a goal for Diageo and should not be considered a target
How is Diageo socially responsible?
We're committed to being socially responsible as part of our 'Society 2030: Spirit of Progress' plan and are exercising social responsibility in several ways. This includes championing inclusion and diversity across our business, at every level, everywhere as well as doing business the right way - creating a culture where all our people feel they are treated fairly and with respect, acting with integrity in our roles, standing up for human rights and using our voice to create fair and inclusive communities wherever we do business.
What is Diageo doing to make their packaging more sustainable?
To make our packaging more sustainable, we continuously work to develop solutions that allow us to cut down packaging, increase recycled content and eliminate waste. For instance, we have created the world’s first ever 100% plastic free paper-based spirits bottle, made entirely from sustainably sourced wood, which will debut with our much-loved brand Johnnie Walker.
Through our innovation programme, Diageo Sustainable Solutions (DSS), we also invest in new technologies and partnerships with start-ups to unlock new ideas that can further help us make our packaging more sustainable.
What is Diageo doing to reach net zero?
We're focused on four areas of action to reach net zero: our operations, our supply chain, our communities and leading through advocacy. In these areas, we're taking a range of actions, such as: converting our energy to renewable alternatives such as bio-energy and solar, moving our vehicles on to renewable and low emission alternatives, working with our suppliers to accelerate decarbonisation, moving towards net zero carbon through local sourcing, and investing in industry leadership activities to inspire and challenge businesses.
What is Diageo's inclusion and diversity policy?
Our inclusion and diversity policy is an integral part of our 'Society 2030: Spirit of Progress' plan. It includes actions and goals that ensure we champion inclusion and diversity across our business, at every level, everywhere - from the diverse talent we recruit, develop and retain, to the way we source services and portray diversity through our brands. This includes nurturing an inclusive culture, shaping an inclusive society through advertising, promoting diversity in our supply chain and promoting sustainable growth through inclusive programmes that provide equal access for all to resources, skills and employment opportunities.
What is Diageo doing to promote responsible drinking?
We promote responsible drinking by highlighting the harm of underage drinking or binge drinking, warning of the dangers of drink driving, or using our brands to highlight the importance of moderation. We do this both through programmes such as DRINKiQ and 'Wrong Side of the Road' and through the marketing of our brands. The Diageo Marketing Code is our mandatory minimum marketing standard for responsible marketing, which goes beyond what is required by law for alcohol marketing.