Diageo has adjusted some of its sustainability targets, including goals on emissions.

In a statement yesterday (14 August), published alongside the release of its 2025 annual report, the London-listed spirits major confirmed it is now looking to reduce its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach net-zero in direct operations by 2040.

The Johnnie Walker distiller is also looking to cut its scope 3 emissions by 26% by 2030 and says it hopes to achieve net zero across scopes 1, 2 and 3 by 2050.

Diageo's previous targets had been to achieve net zero for scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and cut scope 3 emissions by 50%, from a 2020 baseline, by the same year.

The Baileys maker also announced yesterday it is aiming to increase the percentage of recycled content in its packaging to 50% by 2030. Its previous target was 60%. Diageo has scrapped a goal of reducing packaging weight by 10%.

In its statement, the company said: "Climate resilience is complex and key systems like regulation, policy frameworks and infrastructure have not advanced at the scale required.”

In a post on LinkedIn, Ewan Andrew, president of global supply and procurement and chief sustainability officer at Diageo, wrote: “In 2020, when we set ambitious environmental sustainability goals as part of our Spirit of Progress action plan, we didn’t have all the answers.

“But we knew progress would require innovation, long-term commitment and supportive policy environments.”

He added: “Five years on, we have better data, deeper insights and a clearer view of the practical realities to deliver net zero.

“Today, alongside our annual report, we’re updating our sustainability goals, with some important adjustments to our carbon and packaging goals to give us a stronger, more credible path forward.”