Like all good recipes, using the right ingredients is crucial. But knowing what’s in the cupboard is always your first point of call. In 2020 we ran a Lifecycle Analysis from grass to glass, which measured our impact on the planet. We looked at everything from the impact of our dairy farming, through to our production process, water usage, packaging, logistics and waste disposal. Our high environmental standards and plans for improvement is what led us to a score of 21 points in our B Corp environment assessment, but with every good recipe there’s always room to improve!
We’ve set ambitious targets that set our direction and priorities all the way to 2030. These include achieving net zero in our direct operations and halving our supply chain emissions, ensuring all our products are widely recyclable and reducing the amount of water we use to make our much-loved bottles of Baileys. Have a read below to see how we’re getting on:
Since 2008, all Baileys operations have run on 100% renewable electricity – that’s some good energy!
We’re fully committed to reaching net-zero in our direct operations by 2030, as well as reducing our carbon emissions by 50% across our ‘value chain’ (that means these targets have been given the seal of approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), meaning they meet the criteria to reduce emissions by that all-important 1.5°c. Sweet!
At our production sites where we make and bottle all our delicious Baileys, we’ve already reduced our water consumption by 29%.
And the good news will keep on flowing, as we’ve committed to reducing water across the entire Baileys operation by 30% by 2030 from grass to glass.
At our production sites, where we make and bottle all our delicious Baileys, we've already reduced our water consumption by 29%. Most of our packaging is already recyclable, but we are working towards 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging by 2030.
We're launching a new aluminium bottle in airports. It's 5x lighter, which cuts carbon footprint by 44% compared to a glass bottle. We also trialled a new bottle in 2024 that's 90% paper and easily recycled. We're excited about these new bottles' sustainability credentials!
One of the most important steps to improving our impact on the planet is through our Baileys supplier farms. Irish Dairy is amongst the most CO2 efficient milk producer in the EU but there’s always more that can be done. And, as our cows are the stars of Baileys’ production, we make sure to treat them like the dairy queens they are. Read on to find out more about the work we’re doing with our suppliers to improve our impact.
Ireland’s National Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme means all Irish farms are audited every 18 months for the highest standards for animal welfare traceability, environmental protection, and food safety. Every single farm has a data record of their sustainability improvements, ensuring our suppliers’ stay on track of their impact and constantly improve it.
Our supplier farms operate a grass-based farming system. Regular rainfall and Irish soil that’s naturally irrigated and free from water stress is how we provide luscious green fields for our cows to graze on 200 days of the year.
Happy cows mean better quality cream. Milk is measured for somatic cell levels, which helps us understand a cow’s udder health and stress levels. This ensures our cows are happy, healthy, and always producing the best possible cream.
Our farmer suppliers have unrivalled traceability, meaning we know where every drop of Irish cream that goes into our bottles has come from. Through our technological infrastructure, we hold ourselves to high regulation and measurement standards when it comes to tracing environmental impact, employing remote sensing via up to date satellite imagery.
"Baileys was the first customer to speak to me about sustainability over twenty years ago"
- Joe Hayden
Baileys’ cream supplier
One of the most important places we can improve our impact on the planet is on our Baileys supplier farms. Read on to find out how we’re continuously improving.
We say those who make Baileys together, stay together - it’s why we work with over 385 of the same Irish family farms, year after year, decade after decade. Around 98% of these farms have been family run for generations, meaning decades of hands-on experience. We’re proud partners of Glanbia Ireland, our primary dairy supplier, an entirely farmer-owned co-operative, giving farmers more control and say in their businesses.
Glanbia and Baileys are passionate in our commitment in supporting farmers on their sustainability journey. Together, we’ve co-founded the Sustainable Farming Academy; giving future generations the knowledge and skills to progress sustainable farming even further.
Glanbia and Baileys are passionate in our commitment in supporting farmers on their sustainability journey. Together, we’ve co-founded the Sustainable Farming Academy; giving future generations the knowledge and skills to progress sustainable farming even further.
The Hayden family farmSince 1865, the Hayden family have been successfully running their family farm, combining farming rituals with a strong focus on the importance of biodiversity and animal welfare. Being a farm that’s passed down through generations has given the Hayden’s a long-term view on sustainability. To help his herd relax during the milking process, Joe even plays music to them, that’s a tip that’s been passed down through the generations (in the past the cows would be sung to at milking). Think of it as cow meditation.
"My work includes milking the cows and it is the most grounding and intimate of tasks on the farm. I have been milking cows here for over 44 years and my children reckon I have milked at least 3.5 million cows in my life (so far)"
- Joe Hayden
Baileys’ cream supplier
Becoming a more sustainable farm isn’t easy; it requires time, work, and investment. But speak to Joe or any of our dairy farm suppliers and you’ll quickly see it’s all worthwhile. Many of them inherited their farms from generations before them and will pass it down for generations to come, which is why sustainability and taking the best possible care of the land is at the heart of everything they do.
For more information: All of Baileys commitments come are part of the Diageo Society 2030
More information on Glanbias “Living Proof” Sustainability Strategy & Commitments can be found here:
