The drinks industry’s sustainability leaders came together at London’s Haymarket Hotel 30th September as the Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards 2026 celebrated the businesses, brands and individuals demonstrating that environmental and social responsibility can sit at the heart of a successful drinks business.
From pioneering packaging and waste prevention to energy efficiency, social impact and sustainable supply chains, this year’s winners showcased the extraordinary breadth of innovation taking place across the industry.
The awards recognise organisations that are not simply talking about sustainability, but turning ambition into meaningful action — finding practical solutions that can make a measurable difference to the environment, their communities and the long-term resilience of the drinks sector.
Celebrating leadership across the drinks industry
The On Trade Sustainable Supplier of the Year Award sponsored by Lay & Wheeler was won by Social Impact Coffee CIC, recognised for demonstrating how a drinks supplier can combine commercial activity with meaningful social and environmental purpose. GHF (Sapling Spirits) and Lanchester Wines were highly commended in a tie for the award.
In the On Trade Operator of the Year Award sponsored by WasteWatchers, London Hilton Metropole took the top prize, with Benugo highly commended for its sustainability achievements.
The Sustainable Use of Raw Materials Award sponsored by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, went to Beyond Belief Brewing Co., highlighting its approach to using resources more sustainably, while Downton Distillery was highly commended.
Packaging innovation was also strongly represented. GHF (Sapling Spirits) won the Innovations in Packaging Award sponsored by Valpak, with aluminibar from Sustainaholics highly commended for its innovative approach to tackling the environmental challenges associated with drinks packaging.
In the Waste Management and Prevention Award sponsored by Avani Solutions, Downton Distillery emerged as the winner, with Toast Brewing highly commended — demonstrating the continued focus within the sector on waste prevention.
Energy efficiency produced one of the evening’s most notable results, with Heineken UK winning in this category and Lockhart Catering Equipment / Instarinse closely on Heinken UK’s heals as Highly Commended of the Energy Efficiency Award sponsored by Reconomy Connect, recognising their respective contributions to reducing energy use and improving efficiency.
The Social Impact Award sponsored by Candover Brook was won by Change Please, whose work demonstrates the potential of the drinks and hospitality sector to deliver positive social change. Belu was highly commended.
The Economic Sustainability Award sponsored by Warner’s Distillery went to Avani Solutions, with Alkatera highly commended — recognising businesses demonstrating that economic resilience and sustainability can, and must, work together.
Finally, the Stakeholder Engagement Award sponsored by Ekeg was won jointly by Silverstone Circuits Ltd & Ecovend, with Warners Distillery Ltd highly commended, recognising the importance of collaboration and bringing stakeholders together to deliver sustainability objectives.
A sector with much to celebrate
The awards come at a critical time for the drinks industry, with businesses facing a complex combination of economic, environmental and social pressures.
Against this backdrop, the achievements celebrated at the Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards demonstrate that sustainability remains a powerful source of innovation, collaboration and positive change.
“Tonight is about celebrating what is possible when sustainability moves from ambition into action. Across the drinks industry, we are seeing businesses finding smarter ways to use resources, reduce waste, improve efficiency, strengthen communities and build more resilient businesses.
“What is particularly exciting about this year’s awards is the diversity of the organisations being recognised. From major drinks businesses to innovative suppliers, distilleries, breweries and social enterprises, there is no single route to sustainability — but there is a common determination to make progress.
“The winners and highly commended organisations should be enormously proud. They are demonstrating that sustainability is not a separate agenda from the future of the drinks industry. It is fundamental to it.“
– Charles Miers, CEO, Footprint Media Group
The Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards 2026 celebrate the organisations helping to shape that future — recognising both the scale of the challenge facing the industry and the determination, creativity and collaboration being applied to meet it.
The 2026 winners and highly commended
On Trade Sustainable Supplier of the Year sponsored by Lay & Wheeler
🏆 Winner: Social Impact Coffee CIC
⭐ Highly Commended: GHF (Sapling Spirits) & Lanchester Wines
On Trade Operator of the Year WasteWatchers
🏆 Winner: London Hilton Metropole
⭐ Highly Commended: Benugo
Sustainable Use of Raw Materials sponsored by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
🏆 Winner: Beyond Belief Brewing Co.
⭐ Highly Commended: Downton Distillery
Innovations in Packaging sponsored by Valpak
🏆 Winner: GHF (Sapling Spirits)
⭐ Highly Commended: aluminibar (from Sustainaholics)
Waste Management and Prevention sponsored by Avani Solutions
🏆 Winner: Downton Distillery
⭐ Highly Commended: Toast Brewing
Energy Efficiency sponsored by Reconomy Connect
🏆 Winner: Heineken UK
🏆 Highly commended: Lockhart Catering Equipment / Instarinse
Social Impact sponsored by Candover Brook
🏆 Winner: Change Please
⭐ Highly Commended: Belu
Economic Sustainability sponsored by Warner’s Distillery
🏆 Winner: Avani Solutions
⭐ Highly Commended: Alkatera
Stakeholder Engagement sponsored by Ekeg
🏆 Winner: Silverstone Circuits Ltd & Ecovend
⭐ Highly Commended: Warners Distillery Ltd
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