Diageo continues water focus with partnership

Diageo has agreed a five-year partnership deal with international NGO WaterAid as part of the group’s efforts to create “substantial” change in how it manages water its use.

Diageo’s partnership with WaterAid aims to give some of the world’s poorest communities access to clean water

As part of the collaboration, Diageo and WaterAid will help provide water and sanitation to some of the world’s poorest communities and also use their collective influence to advocate universal access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene at local, national and global levels.

The partnership, which is UN registered, is designed to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs).

Diageo is already working with WaterAid in Nigeria and has raised more than £1 million over the last five years for the NGO’s projects.

The UK drinks group will now fund further projects to build toilet facilities, house and school water connections, install pumps and water points and promote good hygiene practice.

“As a global drinks company, the careful management and conservation of water is a top priority for us,” said David Cutter, Diageo’s president of global supply and procurement.

“I’m very proud of Diageo’s long and strong record in responsible water stewardship and our Water of Life programme which has brought clean, safe water and sanitation to millions people in 18 countries over the last 10 years.

“WaterAid is a fantastic NGO and we are hugely proud to partner with them to intensify our efforts. Whether in India, Africa or South East Asia, our partnership will bring together Diageo’s broad geographical footprint with WaterAid’s great expertise and experience.”

Around a third of Diageo’s operations are based in “water stressed” areas. As such, the group implemented the ‘Water Blueprint’ global strategy last year to “effect substantial, sustainable and measurable change” in how it manages water use in its own operations and broader supply chain.

The “ambitious” strategy aims to help Diageo cut its water use in half. An FOI request last year revealed that in 2013, three of Diageo’s distillery’s and one of its malting house’s in Scotland were rated “poor” by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) for their over-abstraction of water from natural sources.

However, the firm swiftly issued a statement emphasising its commitment to preserving the environment and provided reasons for the overuse.