Pernod Ricard : becomes a partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and reinforces its commitment to reducing waste through collaboration and innovation in circular design

Press Release 21/04/2022

Already a signatory of the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment since 2018, Pernod Ricard announced today, eve of Earth Day, that it is becoming a partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. This move demonstrates the Group's commitment to accelerating the transition to a circular economy by working with the Foundation's leading network of businesses, policymakers, academia, innovators, and thought leaders worldwide.

Pernod Ricard is committed to minimising waste at every step by designing, producing and distributing its products and experiences in ways that optimise and help preserve natural resources. As part of its 2030 Sustainability & Responsibility roadmap 'Good Times from a Good Place', the Group has set itself strong targets which have seen great progress in recent months.

Ensuring 100% of its packaging and POS is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.
To drive innovation throughout the Group, Pernod Ricard has developed Global Sustainable Packaging and POS Guidelines for its 70 affiliates, which specify what materials can no longer be used and how they can be replaced. In 2021, Pernod Ricard successfully eliminated all single-use plastic from all its promotional products four years ahead of schedule, while its iconic brands Beefeater and Ballantine's removed plastic from the caps and/or labels of their bottles.

Piloting five new circular ways of distributing wine & spirits by 2030.
The Group is also working to reduce and eventually eliminate waste and carbon emissions by piloting new distribution models. In March 2022, Pernod Ricard Asia joined a closed-loop distribution pilot aimed at reducing waste and carbon emissions in bars in Hong Kong and Singapore, in partnership with ecoSPIRITS. Absolut, Beefeater and Havana Club will now be shipped in bulk and delivered to the bars in 4.5-litre glass containers - ecoTOTES - which once empty will be sent back to the ecoPLANT to be refilled.

Vanessa Wright, Chief Sustainability Officer of Pernod Ricard,

"We are committed to minimising waste at every step and reducing our carbon footprint, in line with a Net Zero trajectory by 2050. True to our vision 'Créateurs de Convivialité', we believe in working with others to strengthen what we do collectively. That's why we are delighted to be partners of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and we look forward to building strong collaborations with its network of experts to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy."

About The Ellen MacArthur Foundation
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an international charity that develops and promotes the circular economy in order to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It works with its Network of private and public sector decision-makers, as well as academia, to build capacity, explore collaborative opportunities, and design and develop circular economy initiatives and solutions. Increasingly based on renewable energy, a circular economy is driven by design to eliminate waste, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature, to create resilience and prosperity for business, the environment, and society. The Foundation collaborates with its Strategic Partners (which includes Danone, Google, H&M Group, Intesa Sanpaolo, Philips, Renault, Solvay, Unilever, SUN, MAVA, People's Postcode Lottery UK) and wider Network (businesses, universities, emerging innovators, governments, cities and affiliate organisations), to build capacity, explore collaboration opportunities, and mobilise and scale circular economy solutions.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation Contact
Rose ELY - [e-mail] [phone]