Australia’s largest retail drinks and hospitality business Endeavour Group has launched its first sustainability strategy with a commitment to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030.
The strategy – A positive imprint, made together – has three core goals: Responsibility & Community, People, and Planet. The company aims to ‘create a more sociable future together’ through these goals and has set multiple commitments to achieve this.
Endeavour Group CEO and managing director Steve Donohue said it marked a major milestone for the company.
“Our ambition is to leave a positive imprint on the communities we are part of, the people we connect with, and the world we all share. We have worked closely with a range of diverse stakeholders to identify the areas where we can make the greatest impact,” said Donohue.
Supporting the Paris Agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees as part of its planet principle, the Endeavour Group has committed to reduce its environmental impact through 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050.
The company also supports the United Nations (UN) Global Compact Ten Principles, and UN Sustainable Development Goals. Endeavour will develop its own climate change strategy as it endeavours to reduces its carbon emissions, the strategy said.
Donohue said the strategy was just the beginning.
“We’re committed to listening and learning, sharing our progress and leaving a positive imprint on the communities we’re part of. We also know that it will be important to adapt and refine our approach along the way,” he said.
The group will establish a Community Advisory Committee in Darwin during 2022 as part of its ‘responsibility & community’ principle. It will feature a local expert panel to create initiatives which will reduce harm or misuse of alcohol and gambling.
Donohue added that it is the company’s role to invest and develop solutions to promote responsibility.
“An example of a research-led industry partnership is our recent collaboration with DrinkWise whose research found low-and non-alcoholic drinks options can help customers moderate their drinking.
technological solutions.
“On the back of this research, we are now trialling dedicated zero, low and mid-strength sections in selected Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores to see how we can best help customers who wish to reduce their alcohol consumption,” he said.
The trial will begin in a purpose-built store in Queensland, as the state’s risky alcohol consumption is six per cent over the nation’s average.
The group will also develop its first reconciliation action plan as it works with Reconciliation Australia to bring its ‘people’ principle to life.
“We are at the beginning of our reconciliation journey, and as such we must first listen and learn from those with lived experience so we can create meaningful, clear and measurable reconciliation goals,” said Donohue.
With more than 28,000 employees, the company has also committed to a 40:40:20 diversity balance in senior leadership and at the board level by 2030 for its ‘people’ principle.
