GGBL commits to efficient use of water
Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) has unveiled its Water Blueprint documents that will outline the company’s strategy to ensure efficient use of water in its operations.
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The Water Blueprint, according to the Corporate Relation Director of GGBL, Mr Gabriel Opoku-Asare, is the company’s strategy document for water management as part of efforts to improve water efficiencies and support efforts to achieve what is set out in the National Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy in relation to water resources management.
At the launch, he said, “our business’ strategic plan to improve water efficiencies and support efforts to achieve what is set out in the National CSR policy in relation to water resources management is set out in the Water Blueprint.”
Per the recently launched National CSR Policy, the focus of any sustainability programme should encompass poverty eradication, employment, sustainable agriculture, health, gender equality, sustainable use, management of natural resources, among others.
“This is another phase of the sustainability story and we urge stakeholders to join us make it happen as we have done before with the Water of Life programme,” he said.
Thematic areas
The company is to implement this Water Blueprint through four thematic areas; advocacy, sustainable sourcing of raw materials, ensuring efficient production and building thriving communities.
The Water Blueprint cements the company’s commitment further and allows external parties to measure what the company is already known for.
He said GGBL had earlier commitments to water which has been celebrated since 2007, citing its flagship community investment programme - Water of Life- which ended in 2015.
A 2014 study showed a positive correlation between the Water of Life programme and its impact on health, women empowerment, livelihood support, girl-child education and estimated revenue accrued.
“Thus we will continue to invest in communities by providing safe water, sanitation and hygiene in all water stressed areas where we operate, ensuring our Water of Life projects are located in the agricultural communities that supply our operations and building projects that are community owned and capable of becoming self-sufficient,” he said.
Commitment
The Global Communications Manager for Diageo Plc, the parent company of GGBL, Ms Cecilia Coonan, reiterated Diageo’s position on the effective use of water.
‘Water is an essential ingredient of all our brands - 90 per cent of beer and 60 per cent of spirits is water. Water is also essential for growing our raw materials. In the production process and in the manufacture of our packaging; and its efficient management is of the utmost importance for our local communities,” she said.
She said the company’s sustainability and responsibility targets for 2020 focused on the areas that were most material to their business and those include building strong communities; environmental performance, particularly water and carbon and promoting the responsible enjoyment of alcohol.
Launching the Blueprint, the Director of Water at the Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Donnan Tony, said, ‘Ghana is endowed with many water resources but they are at risk of depletion and degradation due to natural and human factors. These included the wanton depletion of our forest cover, illegal mining, inappropriate solid and liquid waste disposal and other destructive practices which are inimical to a healthy environment required for our well-being. Any strategic approach therefore to managing the water resources is commendable and welcomed and I am glad the corporate world, especially a brewery giant such as GGBL, is taking the bold step in this regard.’