This article originally appeared on Diageo.com
"South Pole is delighted to have partnered with Johnnie Walker in designing and advancing their ambitious sustainability strategy. We applaud their commitment to reducing their environmental footprint and restoring the natural resources at the heart of their world-famous whiskies. We are extremely proud to have supported Johnnie Walker in making great strides towards their one million trees initiative with the planting of 389,000 native trees in Scotland. This important project will help to lock in carbon, enhance local biodiversity, and create beautiful natural spaces for the public to enjoy for many years to come,"
- Sarah Bonham, Associate Director, Climate Strategies at South Pole
Johnnie Walker – the world's best-selling Scotch (IWSR 2020) – has launched The Next Steps initiative, its most ambitious sustainability drive to date, putting the focus firmly on more sustainable socialising for everyone.
The initiative is a wide-ranging action plan that will see Johnnie Walker keep walking to become more sustainable by design from 'grain to glass'. The initiative is part of the brand's ongoing efforts to reduce its environmental footprint, restore natural landscapes and reinvent how its whisky is made, distributed and enjoyed in every corner of the world.
Included in the programme is a series of environmental commitments which, by 2030, will ensure:
“Johnnie Walker is built on a legacy of making positive, progressive choices – our own 'Keep Walking' mantra is shaped by that thinking. When we look at the world around us it's clear that we all have a role to play in protecting the planet and its resources. We can either see what's happening and choose to do nothing or we can keep walking, taking every step we can to reduce our impact. We believe there is only one choice to make." - Julie Bramham,
Johnnie Walker Global Brand Director.
The new programme will be spearheaded by the creation of a revolutionary new bar experience, which will showcase the future of 'sustainable socialising'. Created in partnership with multi-award-winning drinks pioneer Ryan Chetiyawardana (Mr Lyan Studio); CEO of Package Free and zero-waste champion Lauren Singer; and The World's Most Rubbish (a global community dedicated to making single-use a thing of the past), the inventive bar experience will premiere later this year before rolling out globally across multiple markets.
“Sustainability needs commitment and bold steps – alongside the little, everyday ones – so I'm so proud to be working in partnership with Johnnie Walker as they seek to make proper inroads into addressing this evolving topic with a real and genuine ambition to make a difference. It's been incredible to see them focussed on revolutionising their approach to drink, events and experiences, and helping support big scale change." - Ryan Chetiyawardana, Cocktail Bartender & Drinks Pioneer.
The brand's environmental pledges come on top of its continued commitment to promote diversity and inclusivity in all its work and its ongoing advocacy for responsible drinking.
For more information on the initiative visit http://nextsteps.johnniewalker.com where you can keep up-to-date and track progress in real-time.
Inaction is not an option, Keep Walking.