Now, Diageo to use water-from-air to make whisky in India
Diageo India, the Indian subsidiary of UK-based global beverage alcohol major Diageo, has announced a first-of-a-kind water stewardship initiative through which the company will use water produced from vapour to make whisky in its production facility in Rajasthan.
Diageo India has tied up with US-based renewable water technology innovator SOURCE Global, which will use its hydropanel technology for the first time in the world to use water made purely from sunlight and air in an alcoholic beverage.
Initially, the tie-up will help produce premium water for Godawan, Diageo India’s artisanal single malt whisky.
As the technology partner, SOURCE Global will build a 200-panel water farm in Alwar, Rajasthan. The initial installation is expected to generate 9000 litre of water within the first six months and will further scale up to produce around 27,000 litre of water per month after a year.
The initiative will help save groundwater. Godawan, Diageo India’s artisanal single malt whisky, produced in the warm and dry Alwar region of Rajasthan, will be the first beverage alcohol brand to use SOURCE water.
“We have a responsibility to grow our business sustainably from grain to glass. Last year, we set a vision and commitment to build our Society 2030 program, aligned to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The innovative actions of our teams and partners will help us conserve groundwater considerably. Our partnership with SOURCE is aligned to the craft philosophy of born good, made good, and serve good. This is a step forward in our journey to be part of the solution in water-stressed geographies”, said Diageo India MD & CEO Hina Nagarajan.
According to an official statement, as SOURCE water is locally made, it reflects the unique terroir of the region. SOURCE hydropanels also operate off-grid and without electricity or traditional piped water infrastructure, reducing the carbon emissions associated with treating and transporting potable water.
“As the first company to use renewable water in an alcohol brand, Diageo India is serving the growing demand for premium, sustainable products in an incredibly unique and powerful way,” said SOURCE Global, PBC Brand President Neil Grimmer.
“The world, especially in already water-stressed regions like Rajasthan, is now facing the harsh realities of climate change, and Diageo is leading the way toward a more secure and sustainable future. We are proud to partner with them.”
This initiative is aligned to Diageo India’s commitment towards Society 2030: Spirit of Progress Plan. The company recently released its maiden ESG Index, which highlighted the multiple initiatives undertaken by it during the year such as creating water replenishment capacity of 4,62,182 Cu.M annually and 84,000 litre of potable drinking water per day under its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme.
The company is working to replenish more water than it uses in the water-stressed sites across its operating locations in India through reforestation, wetland restoration, desilting ponds and rainwater harvesting.
