Drinks maker promises greener future

Drinks manufacturer Sunny Delight says it will cut energy use by 25% by next year and send no more waste to landfill by 2013.


The soft drinks company published its sustainability report for 2009 this month, which lists a number of achievements and future plans.

Billy Cyr, the company’s president and chief executive officer, said: “We pursue sustainability because it so strongly fits with the personal values of those who manage the Sunny Delight Beverages Co every day.

“We want our company to be a positive force in our communities and to become a well-respected citizen. We want our families to be proud of the work we do every day.”

The company says the acquisition of a beverage company producing drinks from sustainably-harvested Amazon ‘superfruit’, the açai berry, will help meet some of its social and environmental goals by boosting customer well-being.

The company has also donated a quarter of a million bottles of drink to survivors of the Haitian earthquake and joined a national campaign fronted by First Lady Michelle Obama to tackle obesity in the US.

Sunny Delight also has plans to tackle water consumption and set targets to cut its carbon footprint and waste.

But it pointed out just under half of the total water it uses goes directly into its drinks and therefore cannot be reduced.

The remaining 53%, however, can be and the company has pledged to reduce this ‘non-production water use’ significantly setting a target of 25% by 2011.

The company’s carbon, energy and water targets all use a ‘per unit’ yardstick, rather than being absolute figures, so the actual goals will change depending on production levels.

For the full report click here.

David Gibbs

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe