Its bourbon is brown but Jim Beam鈥檚 future is green
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The process of making fine whiskey involves aging spirits to a golden brown, but a bourbon producing giant is going green along the way.
Beam Suntory, producer of top-selling Jim Beam and Maker鈥檚 Mark, both crafted in Kentucky, wants to halve its company-wide greenhouse gas emissions and water usage by 2030. The company鈥檚 more ambitious goal is to remove more carbon than is emitted from its operations and among its supplier base by 2040.
The spirits giant also is committed to planting 500,000 trees annually by 2030, with a goal of planting more trees than are harvested to make barrels to hold its aging whiskeys. Bourbon ages for years in charred new oak barrels, where it acquires its color and flavor.
The sustainability campaign will span every facet of production 鈥 from 鈥渟eed to sip,鈥 it said.
鈥淢aking a positive impact on the planet, consumers and communities isn鈥檛 just the right thing to do 鈥 it鈥檚 a must-do for the sustainability of our business and humanity,鈥 said Albert Baladi, president and CEO of Chicago-based Beam Suntory.
Beam Suntory said it anticipates investing more than US$500 million this decade to achieve its goals of reducing its carbon footprint. The company said it鈥檚 already made progress, having reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 19 percent through investments in technology and use of cleaner fuels.
The company also said it will use 100 percent recyclable packaging by 2030 and pledged to work only with suppliers that use sustainable practices by 2040.
Another spirits giant Diageo plans to begin production this summer at its new Kentucky distillery that it says will be carbon neutral. The US$130 million distillery at Lebanon, which will start by producing Bulleit bourbon, will be powered by 100 percent renewable electricity.
Last year, London-based Diageo announced its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions across its direct operations by 2030 by tapping into renewable energy.
鈥淎s a global business, we are committed to playing our part to protect the future of our planet and to leading the way for others to follow,鈥 said Diageo Chief Executive Ivan Menezes.
Diageo鈥檚 other spirits brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Smirnoff, Ketel One, Captain Morgan, Baileys and Guinness.
Beam Suntory noted that its Fred B. Noe Craft Distillery will be the company鈥檚 first distillery powered by renewable energy. The distillery is set to open this year in Clermont, Kentucky.
Other Beam Suntory distilleries across the world have begun transitioning to lower carbon fuels, such as natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas.
鈥淲e are taking a three-step approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions,鈥 said company spokeswoman Emily Bryson York. 鈥淲e will optimize our existing processes, move to 100 percent renewable electricity and ultimately to 100 percent renewable fuel.鈥
The transformation will not change distillation processes.
To enhance water sustainability, both Maker鈥檚 Mark and the James B. Beam Distilling Co. have established Natural Water Sanctuaries in Kentucky to protect local water sources vital to crafting the bourbons.
Beam Suntory also pledged to invest US$500 million to significantly expand its responsibility-themed communications to promote responsible drinking. The company said its goal is to reach more than 300 million consumers by 2030.
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