How do you incorporate sustainability and social responsibility into your beverage business strategy?

In order to transmit the culture of sustainability to the stakeholders, the first step is to incorporate it into the corporate values that support the mission. In my experience I saw so many times declared values continuamente rinnegati nella realtà del day by day. Only if sustainability and the desire to support business continuity, to be up to date at the time are sincerely felt by the entrepreneur, he/she will effectively convey this culture in every business initiative and decision.

Sustainability should not be a marketing strategy in any business. I'm from the wine&spirit industry. In this industry, consumers tend to be more and more conscious on what they drink. There have been a certain tendancy to show how respectful your business is etc. But in the reality if the company, and the stakeholders are not deeply comitted to improve their impact, consumers will not feel any authenticity and honesty. To engage consumers, you must clearly identify your DNA, your values, how you want to assess the issue of your company impact on the environment as a whole (social, biodiversity, CO2 etc.).

You have a choice, when setting up your business: either sustainability can be an obstacle to your commercial aims, or an essential part of them. Tacking on sustainable aims as an afterthought runs the risk of both hampering your business and forcing you into "greenwashing" behaviour. But an aim of sustainability can do wonders for your commercial success - by forcing you to think long term, big picture, and by building in a system of transparency and accountability - if you let it permeate right into the heart of what you're doing.

Your Operation and supply chain should reduce environmental footprint. Operation should adopt practicing waste water re using by filtering it with activated carbon filters. Activated Carbon can be re used several times and can be re activated after a certain times after using it.

There are many alternative package innovations in the beverage space, but a simple change is to choose glass bottle suppliers that use recycled glass. In certain regions like the EU, on average, 50%+ of wine bottles use recycled glass.

In the Chilean wine industry, sustainability and social responsibility involves crafting wines that align with consumer expectations for natural, organic, and fair trade products. Achieving B Corporation certification can demonstrate a commitment to these values, emphasizing the importance of reducing carbon and water footprints. Advancements in sustainable viticulture, eco-friendly packaging solutions like recyclable or biodegradable materials are being more common everyday. Many wineries in Chile seek reputable certifications and minimize harmful packaging materials, with their practices protecting the environment and resonating with the values of conscientious consumers. #chileanwine #vinosdechile #winesofchile

Incorporating sustainability and social responsibility into our beverage business strategy isn’t just an ethical choice; it’s a strategic imperative. We communicate this commitment by aligning our brand’s narrative with the values of our consumers—using marketing as a platform to educate and inspire. Whether through sourcing ethically, reducing waste, or supporting local communities, we ensure that every aspect of our operations reflects a deeper purpose. This approach not only builds trust but also fosters a loyal customer base that shares our vision for a sustainable future.

Elevate your sustainability efforts by teaming up with organisations that share your values and vision. Find partners who bring the right resources, expertise, and connections to amplify your impact. Get involved with industry groups and initiatives that push for sustainability standards and best practices. By joining forces with like-minded allies, you’ll not only strengthen your efforts but also drive real change in social responsibility across the industry. Together, you can make a bigger difference.

More and more often in this kind of partnerships you risk big and painful ugly figures, because you look at the aesthetics of sustainability operations and you avoid to evaluate well the real assumption: the first goal of a company is the profitability of the business, achieved in a legal and stakeholder-friendly manner. But how many times before evaluating a partnership is a valid analysis of creditworthiness, reputational merit and legalmerit done? Balocco is just the last scandal, but not the only one.

To broaden your horizons and achieve greater success, it would be beneficial to establish partnerships with a wide range of organizations that share similar goals and values. Consider collaborating with organizations of varying sizes, industries, and backgrounds to expand your reach and impact. The Roots Fund or Latinas Wine Club Inc. are organizations that focus on diversity. This approach will not only provide access to new resources and expertise, but also create opportunities for mutual growth and development.

Innovation needs motivation - you need to know why you're innovating, and what you're aiming for. A "better" product is too woolly of an aim. But a more sustainable one? That's a tangible goal. The most exciting creativity often comes out of working with the tightest constraints. So if you make your innovation process all about achieving stringent sustainability targets, you're likely to end up with a product, or way of working, that is more unique and more successful too.