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 reflect our direction and priorities. These include our targets to achieve net zero carbon emissions, ensuring all our products are widely recyclable and targeting 40% improvement in water use efficiency in water-stressed areas with reductions in water use in our operations. Have a read below to see how we’re getting on:
We are working towards a lower carbon future and are following a science-based approach to drive the pace and scale of change required. Our targets to achieve net zero carbon emissions demonstrate our commitment to mitigating our impact on climate change.
Across our supply chain, we’re clear on the decarbonisation levers we control and the solutions that require collaboration with others to progress.
Water is the most important ingredient in our products. It’s also a precious shared resource that is facing increasing pressure, in many parts of the world, by the impacts of climate change and the competing demands for freshwater resources.
Our strategy is based on best practice water stewardship in four areas: operations, supply chain, communities and advocacy.
Target : 40% improvement in water use efficiency in water-stressed areas with reductions in water use in our operations.
Packaging is an important part of our business. We’re prioritising action in packaging that delivers benefits in terms of carbon savings and increased efficiency while promoting our iconic brands.
We have lightweighted our core glass bottles by 10% & we also tested a new aluminium bottle. 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 Tirlán Ireland, our primary dairy supplier, an entirely farmer-owned co-operative, giving farmers more control and say in their businesses.
Tirlán and Baileys are passionate in our commitment in supporting farmers on their sustainability journey. Together, we are proud to be part of 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 almost 50 years 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 Tirlan “Living Proof” Sustainability Strategy & Commitments can be found here:
