The Drinks Business magazine honors outstanding sustainable beverage retailers for the 10th time – Sponsored by EuroShop
by Katja Laska (exclusively for EuroShop.mag)
To ensure the long-term success of their business, companies in all industry sectors must meet the demand of importers, retailers, and consumers for sustainable products. The beverage industry is no exception in this case. Companies that produce and distribute alcoholic beverages including beer, wine, and liquor must find ways to improve their sustainability and environmental performance. The Drinks Business Green Awards aim to distinguish green pioneers and once again honored outstanding environmental initiatives in the beverage sector in 2020.
The tenth anniversary edition followed tradition by paying tribute to the environmental awareness and sustainability strategies of beverage companies that set excellent examples. The event also aims to inspire other companies to follow in these sustainable footsteps. EuroShop, the World’s No. 1 Retail Trade Fair once again joined and supported the Awards as one of its esteemed sponsors.
At the end of last year, the prizes were awarded in 16 categories. The virtual ceremony was presented by Patrick Schmitt, the editor-in-chief of The Drinks Business magazine, which is the driving force behind the Awards. He was especially thrilled to announce that, “We have received more submissions than ever before this special year, the level of applications has been very high, and you can see that the industry takes sustainability very seriously.” Apart from reducing CO2 emissions, the event also shines a bright light on other aspects of environmental protection, including reduction in energy consumption, water use, recycling, transportation, soil-management techniques, and packaging.
© Screenshot/The Drinks Business Green Awards
Elke Moebius, Global Head of Retail / Retail Technologies of Messe Düsseldorf, presented the award for the “ETHICAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR” category. The nominees were Bosman Family Vineyards, Journey’s End, Kobe Shushinkan Brewery, Santa Rita, and Trivento. ”Our judges were unanimous in their praise for this company’s genuine commitment to tackling worsening hunger and poverty within South Africa. This year’s “ETHICAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR” winner is Journey’s End.”
Prizes were also awarded in the following categories:
GREEN RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Honest Grapes
Honest Grapes impressed the judges with its 360° approach to green practices, with 82% of the producers it works with practicing sustainable farming, nearly a third of which are certified organic. The retailer also exclusively uses 100% plastic-free packaging.
British retailer Marks & Spencer received a special commendation for its green efforts. The supermarket chain increased its portfolio of organic products by a third and implements a plastic-free strategy. What’s more, 80 percent of Marks & Spencer’s suppliers are sustainable.
© Screenshot Youtube/ The Drinks Business Green Awards
BEST ORGANIC INITIATIVE
Winner: Bonterra
The winner was announced by Andreas Moerke of Energy Storage Europe, the trade show partner of EuroCIS. Moerke praised the winning company Bonterra for using humor in its approach to sustainability as part of its “Tastes Like Saving the Planet” campaign.
© Screenshot Youtube/ The Drinks Business Green Awards
GREEN COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Winner: Jackson Family Wines
The winner was announced by Bastian Mingers from ProWein, another partner of Messe Düsseldorf. The company was applauded by the judges for its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, its wide-scale use of renewable energy, and its pledge to give back to the land through regenerative farming.
A list of all other winners can be seen here.
