treating each other:
Sustainability
Energy
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 everything that goes into making Baileys from start to finish). These targets have been developed in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), meaning we’re meeting the criteria for the 1.5°c degree pathway!
Water
At our production sites where we make and bottle 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 20% by 2030 from grass to glass.
Packaging
At Baileys we create zero waste to landfill in our direct operations, reducing, reusing, and recycling everything on site since 2014.
Most of our packaging is already recyclable but we’re working towards a goal for 100% of our packaging to be recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging by 2030.
The Baileys Cows
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 are constantly working to improve it.
Our supplier farms operate a grass-based farming system. Regular rainfall, which naturally irrigates the and Irish soils is how we provide luscious green fields for our cows to graze on, more than 200 days of the year.
Stress-free cows mean better quality cream. Milk is monitored for somatic cell levels, which helps us understand the cow’s udder health and stress levels. This ensures our cows have low stress levels, maintain good health, and always produce 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 partners technological infrastructure, they are held to high regulation and measurement standards when it comes to tracing environmental impact. Even employing remote sensing via up-to-date satellite imagery which tracks their impact.
On the farms
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, 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’ve co-founded the Sustainable Farming Academy; giving future generations the knowledge and skills to progress sustainable farming even further.
Together we're implementing regenerative agriculture farming practices to restore soil and increase biodiversity. This includes the purchase of 100,000 native Irish trees and hedgerows by Tirlán farm family suppliers 12 months ahead of the target, providing the best environment possible for our cows and the species they share the fields with.
One of our dairy suppliers: The Hayden family farm
Since 1865, the Hayden family have run a successful farm, thanks to their ethical farming rituals alongside a long-term focus on sustainability, biodiversity and animal welfare. 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.
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.