Pernod Ricard moves single-use plastics phase-out forward to 2021

Pernod Ricard has shared guidelines with its 90 affiliates specifying which materials can no longer be used and how they can be replaced

Pernod Ricard had pledged to remove all single-use POS plastics by 2025 under a global sustainability strategy launched in April 2019. However, the beverage company, which owns brands such as Absolut Vodka, Malibu and Kahlua, has pushed the target forward in order to accelerate progress against its sustainability agenda.

Pernod Ricard’s chief executive Alexandre Ricard added, “For the past two years we have been striving to accelerate every aspect of our business, and the current crisis must not be a threat but rather an opportunity to speed up the implementation of our Sustainability & Responsibility roadmap.”

“The end of single-use plastic POS items is one of the many ways we will do our share to bring positive change to the world we live in, and achieving this goal four years ahead of schedule underlines our employees’ commitment to do so.”

Pernod Ricard has shared guidelines with its 90 affiliates specifying which materials can no longer be used and how they can be replaced.

Pernod Ricard, a member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy, is also targeting improved packaging recyclability. By 2025, Pernod Ricard will target 100% of its packaging to be recyclable, compostable, reusable or bio-based. By 2030, five new closed-loop methods of distributing its wine and spirits will be introduced to increase recycling rates in the firm’s 10 largest markets that have low recycling rates. In 2018, Pernod Ricard banned plastic straws and stirrers from its events.

Good Time from a Good Place

Plastics make up one component of Pernod Ricard’ sustainability roadmap, which is aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and commits to targets relating to regenerative agriculture and biodiversity and science-based carbon targets.

Pernod Ricard’s 2030 “Good Times from a Good Place” strategy forms part of the group’s Transform and Accelerate strategic plan and sets out eight targets that support the SDGs.

The company has notably committed to reducing the overall intensity of its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030, as part of the Science-Based Targets (SBTs) initiative – originally committed in September 2018. The company is also targeting improved water use in high-risk watersheds, such as India and Australia, and will replenish 100% of the water used in its production sites.

edie recently spoke to Pernod Ricard’s vice president of global sustainability Vanessa Wright on the company’s approach to regenerative agriculture and biodiversity and why more people will be focusing on natural climate solutions moving forward, in light of the coronavirus outbreak. Read the interview here.

Matt Mace