The shortlist has been announced for the inaugural Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards, revealing the sustainability initiatives of the on-trade drinks sector’s leading responsible businesses.
Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards is the only initiative to honour the achievements of companies in specific areas of sustainability and responsible business practice in the out of home sector and its supply chain. These awards are open to drinks businesses, suppliers and stakeholders of all sizes operating in the hospitality and out of home arena: brand, manufacturer, supply chain, distributor or operator.
The shortlisted companies for the award categories in alphabetical order are as follows:
Economic Sustainability Award
Brentingby Gin
Good Things Brewing Co
Patrón Tequila
Sustainable Use of Water Award
Adnams
Greene King and Waterscan
Marston’s
Sipsmith
WWF-UK and Coca-Cola Foundation
Sustainable Use of Raw Materials Award
Black Cow Vodka
The Garden Cider Company
The Oxford Artisan Distillery
Seven Bro7hers Brewery
Toast Ale
Energy Efficiency Award
Brentingby Gin
Winterhalter
Wye Valley Brewery
Innovations in Packaging Award
Banrock Station
Carlsberg UK
Garçon Wines
Lucozade Ribena Suntory
Rebellion Brewery
Waste Prevention and Management Award
Marston’s
Patrón Tequila
Reunion Ales
Toast Ale
Sustainable Supplier Award
Bibendum Wine
European Malt Company
Good Things Brewing Co.
Karma Kola Co
Radnor Hills
Stakeholder Engagement Award
Bluestone Brewing Co
Budweiser Brewing Group
Hogs Back Brewery
Warner’s Distillery
Social Impact & Diversity Award
Brewgooder
Coca-Cola European Partners
The Driver’s Drinks Company
Meiko UK
Teapigs
*More than 3 companies represented in any category of the shortlist indicates where scores are tied
The Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards Dinner will take place on Wednesday 11th September at Royal Institute of British Architects, 66 Portland Place W1B 1NT. Book tickets HERE
Thank you to all Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards sponsors and partners. Without your support putting on these awards would not be possible: Matthew Clark, British Beer & Pub Association, British Soft Drinks Association, Coca-Cola European Partners, Nescafé Azera, The Patrón Spirits Company, Society of Independent Brewers, UK Hospitality and WRAP.
Thanks also to our panel of judges: Michael Alexander, Roz Davis, Simon Galkoff, Richard Heyhoe, Julian Hunt, Steve Kearns, William Kendall, Kate Nicholls, David Phillips and Tim Warrillow.
About the awards
The Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards is the barometer for sustainability and responsible business practice for the drinks industry in the out of home sector.
The soft drinks industry has been in the public spotlight of late with its impacts highlighted in both the sugar and plastic debates. The alcoholic drinks sector has, to date, remained under the sustainability radar, but this is about to change.
Few industries rely on raw materials, water, energy and packaging as much as those involved in the production of alcohol and soft drinks. Carbon outputs through manufacturing processes and distribution, not to mention the waste implications, are evidence of a global industry with a huge collective responsibility that is arguably more beholden to climate and environmental conditions than many others. Add to that the social sustainability agenda; the impact the drinks industry has on its constituents’ health, with the effects of excess alcohol and sugar consumption taking increasing chunks out of the NHS budget, along with other social aspects such as the living wage, gender, diversity and worker welfare.
Meanwhile, the consumer is increasingly well informed and, to the influential millennials particularly, business reputations can rise and fall over an approach to sustainable practice. What even five years ago was considered as foresighted innovation is today regarded as the bare minimum and it is no surprise that it is the most successful businesses that have embraced the concept, changed behaviour, and are now leading the way towards a more sustainable and responsible industry.
