Pernod Ricard – Socio Economic Impact in India

As an organisation committed to creating a better world for all stakeholders, Pernod Ricard India remains steadfastly focused on steering sustainable growth. We are striving continually to create a convivial environment, designed to nurture the long-term interests of our consumers and communities, as well as the ecosystem in which we live and work. It is our constant endeavour to reimagine a circular future mapped across the key metrics of sustainable development.

One For Our Planet Initiative – Project Unbox:

Accelerating its commitment to sustainability, PRI has taken a major initiative to remove permanent mono-cartons across its portfolio of brands. Starting with 500 million pieces annually under our Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brands, and based on consumer acceptance, we will gradually extend this initiative to include our portfolio of imported brands. This initiative from Pernod Ricard India aims to inspire consumers to make eco-conscious purchase decisions, reduce waste to landfill for secondary packaging and contribute to the Company’s 2030 Responsibility & Sustainability roadmap ‘Good Times from a Good Place’, which supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Aligned to Pernod Ricard’s global commitment to sustainability, the environment first Project Unbox – #OneForOurPlanet initiative aims to:

• Reduce the carbon footprint
• Eliminate water footprint in secondary packaging
• Help reduce deforestation

With this initiative, Pernod Ricard India will become the first to achieve a zero-waste-to-landfill contribution for permanent mono-cartons in India. This will also reduce 7310 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year, save 250,000 trees every year, and create water positivity.

W.A.L (Water, Agriculture, Livelihoods)

PRI is consistently working towards water stewardship to save, store and replenish water, especially in our plant locations, with a stakeholder inclusive approach. We are water positive in our operations with replenishment strategies at extremely high- and high-water risk sites.

With the vision of transforming our communities and accelerating local development, PRI is building resilient and water secure communities. With our CSR Programmes on W.A.L (Water, Agriculture, Livelihoods) vertical, communities in water-stressed areas have adopted a circular approach and eventually have become more resilient in their approach to water use. W.A.L. has 4 major aspects of community empowerment:

1. Safeguarding year-round access to water to communities: With over 2022 rainwater storage, recharge and water saving structures since 2019, and 975 structures within our watersheds, we are ensuring that communities have year-round access to water for agriculture, livestock and daily use and remain drought resilient. 1,697 million litres of groundwater recharge potential has been generated within our watersheds across 10 states.
2. Engaging with various agricultural communities: W.A.L. initiatives are promoting best community practices for improved production, drought resilience, resource optimisation and creating local value chains with focus on creating locally feasible, climate resilient and low-cost approaches to provide scale to the productivity of crops with specialised ‘package of practices’. W.A.L. is helping farmers manage soil nutrition better, water retention and eventually increase their yield.
3. Regenerative and restorative approaches for sustainable resource use in agri-allied livelihoods: We have encouraged farming communities to institutionalise Natural Resource Management as a core component of agricultural livelihoods and seasonal cycles. In 2021, W.A.L. programme covered 7,532 small and marginal farmers with a total outreach of more than 16,600 farmers till date.
4. Greater participation and ownership by women in rural development: Through W.A.L., focused efforts are made to empower and enable rural women to step out of four walls, take ownership and develop better decision-making power and rights in livelihood activities and social disclosure. In 2021-22, 77 Women Producer Groups (WPGs) were empowered through our W.A.L. interventions.

Grounded with a strong sense of purpose and partnership, PRI’s flagship CSR programme W.A.L., embodies a strong sense of ‘Leaving No One Behind’ to emerge as a sustainable and responsible organisation.