Diageo has announced plans to invest more than €100 million (£85.2m) to help decarbonise the historic site where Guinness has been brewed for more than 260 years.
The company, whose beverage brands include Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Captain Morgan, said it is looking to ‘transform’ energy and water consumption at the St James’s Gate site in Dublin.
What this looks like in practice is phasing out entirely the use of fossil fuels in direct brewing operations – becoming net zero – as well as reducing Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions generated by the site by more than 90%.
By 2030, Diageo noted, the water used to brew Guinness will be reduced by 30% through a new water recovery facility, which will also be used to generate biogas as part of the site’s renewable energy strategy.
The investment was announced by Diageo global CEO Debra Crew, who was joined by the Taoiseach, Simon Harris TD, as well as minister for enterprise, trade and employment Peter Burke, and Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland.
Crew thanked the government support for what she called the ‘ambitious’ decarbonisation plan. “St. James’s Gate is an historic location for an iconic brand,” said Crew. “This investment will ensure that Guinness has an exciting and long-term sustainable future.
“We are proud to lead the way on decarbonisation, both as a major Irish business and as an industry-leading company.”
Diageo’s 10-year ESG action plan, titled ‘Society 2030: Spirit of Progress’, is extensive. The company is focusing heavily on the social side with its various initiatives. Among these are campaigns to reach one billion people with dedicated responsible drinking messaging, as well as championing gender and ethnic diversity. Diageo has put numbers of 50% of women in leadership roles and 45% of leaders from ethnically diverse backgrounds by 2030, though adding these are ‘goals’ and should not be considered targets.
The company is set to prepare a planning application for the decarbonisation project to be submitted to Dublin City Council later this year.
