STRONG progress has been made by The Absolut Company in meeting its 2030 carbon reduction targets, the firm has revealed in its sustainability report FY21/22.
It comes just weeks after Absolut Vodka announced its ‘groundbreaking’ initiative with Ardagh Glass Packaging to start using a partly hydrogen energy-fired glass furnace for large-scale bottle production.
Absolut said that ‘radical’ change is needed to solve the sustainability challenges that glassmakers and buyers of glass face. The company was able to fund the initiative because of surplus emission rights built up at its Nöbbelöv distillery, which it said is one of the most energy-efficient in the world.
Malibu, also owned by The Absolut Company, is also making sustainability strives, with its PET bottles now made with 30% recycled plastic. The firm had initially set a target of achieving 25% by 2025, but managed to beat this.
Further sustainability plans at Malibu include a partnership with Plastic Bank to support a plastic recycling ecosystem in the Philippines, while improving the lives of local communities at the same time. Such has been the success of its collaboration it has extended the partnership by another year, the company added.
The new sustainability report adds that The Absolut Company predicts that partnerships and green funding are going to ‘make or break’ the ability to hit carbon reduction goals. It continues by stating that, three years on from the Covid-19 pandemic, the spirits industry is still striving to recover amid ‘fragile’ supply chains, an energy crisis, inflation, and rising interest rates.
It highlights that Absolut Vodka’s 2030 carbon road map remains on track and that The Absolut Company’s two other main brands, Kahlúa and Malibu, have reached ‘key’ milestones.
Stéphanie Durroux, CEO of The Absolut Company, said, “Sustainability continues to be very high on our agenda despite the global economic, logistical and geopolitical challenges we have all faced. Some events, such as Europe’s energy crisis, have served to intensify the climate change debate, yet as our latest sustainability report highlights, we are as determined as ever.
“The past year has reinforced the fundamental importance of our sustainability and responsibility strategy to business resilience and growth. As you can see from our report, we work closely with all our partners from farmers to NGOs to suppliers. It is because of these long-standing relationships that we remain on target to achieve our carbon reduction goals.
“Partnerships with like-minded organisations and having the courage to make bold decisions that help fund innovative green initiatives are going to be evermore crucial on our carbon reduction journey.”
