During COP30 discussions, the issue of clean water scarcity returned to the spotlight, with global leaders warning that demand for this essential resource is likely to exceed supply by 2030. The corporate sector plays a strategic role in this scenario, investing in water-preservation programs that combine environmental and social responsibility with operational benefits such as cost reduction, greater production efficiency and supply-chain resilience.
Diageo, a global leader in premium beverages, embeds sustainability into its operational DNA. Álvaro Cárdenas, President for Latin America and global ESG sponsor, emphasizes that water preservation goes beyond business: “Water is our most essential and scarce resource, and we aim to replenish more water than we use in water-stressed areas by 2026—not only for our business, but for the communities where we operate.”
Projects of water replenishment and collective action such as Charco Bendito in Mexico, and operations at Ypióca® in Brazil illustrate how tradition, innovation and environmental responsibility can move forward together. At the same time, initiatives like the special edition of the Learning for Life program in Belém—which trained 116 professionals in 2024 and an additional 150 ahead of COP30, preparing the city’s hospitality sector to welcome the event—reinforce Diageo’s commitment to social development and strengthening local economies.
The company also invests in carbon reduction, diversity and inclusion, and responsible drinking, reinforcing that these pillars are not isolated initiatives but are rooted in its DNA and shape its entire global operation.
To better understand Diageo’s ESG strategy and how it translates into social and environmental impact across Latin America, read the full interview with Álvaro Cárdenas, President for the region.
1) What is Diageo’s ESG/Sustainability Strategy?
“At Diageo, ESG is not something separate from our business. We have been working on water stewardship, diversity and inclusion, responsible drinking and carbon for many years—long before ESG became a popular topic. For each of these pillars, we have defined clear medium and long-term goals that help us operate sustainably and create value for our business, for the communities where we operate, and for the industry as a whole.
When it comes to water, our goal is to replenish more water than we use in water-stressed areas by 2026. This is not only an environmental target but also a commitment to communities and the long-term sustainability of our business. For carbon, we have set reduction targets across our entire value chainwith the ambition to reach net zero by 2040 for scopes 1 and 2, and by 2050 for scope 3.
With regard to diversity and inclusion, we want our organization to reflect the diversity of our consumers—not just as a policy, but in practice—incorporating different perspectives, genders and backgrounds. And on responsible drinking, we promote responsible consumption, encouraging the mindful use of alcohol. All these areas are integrated and part of our everyday work: this is how we do business, not a separate workflow.”
2) What role does Latin America play in Diageo’s global ESG strategy?
“For us, Latin America is an engine of ESG innovation—a true laboratory for practices that can become global benchmarks. This allows us to test, improve and expand solutions before bringing them to other markets.
In Mexico, for example, we operate in what is currently considered Diageo’s highest water-risk market globally. In Jalisco, where we run two distilleries in Atotonilco, we partner with local authorities to develop water infrastructure, innovative treatment solutions and environmental-restoration programs. We also became formal champions of the Charco Bendito initiative, a collective effort in the Santiago/Lerma basin led by 12 organisations to preserve water resources.
In Brazil, our Ypióca site in Itaitinga, Ceará operates with 100% renewable energy, replenishes more than 100% of the water used by returning it to the same watershed, maintains a zero-waste policy through recycling and reuse of byproducts, and uses returnable packaging and recycled materials. We have also implemented low-carbon logistics solutions.
These examples demonstrate how Latin America blends environmental innovation with production efficiency, reinforcing the region’s role as a catalyst for globally replicable practices. From Mexico to Brazil, each initiative reflects our commitment to generating local impact and global value, integrating industrial performance with social and environmental progress.”
3) Learning for Life has already impacted thousands of people. What concrete results have been observed in Latin America, and how does this initiative expand Diageo’s social impact in the region?
“Learning for Life is one of our initiatives we are most proud of, and it was born in Brazil more than 20 years ago before becoming a global program. Since then, more than 34,000 people have been trained in Brazil alone——and over 50,000 across Latin America. The program offers training in hospitality, bartending and professional skills that help people enter and succeed in the job market. And we don’t just train—we also support their placement into their first jobs.
A very special result this year was the edition launched in Belém in preparation for COP30. In partnership with Sebrae, Abrasel and Amazônia Sour, we trained 116 new professionals in 2024 and another 150 ahead of COP30, preparing the city and its entire hospitality sector for one of the most important environmental events of the decade. In Belem, these professionals are helping transform local tourism, highlighting Amazonian ingredients, strengthening the regional economy and leaving a legacy of employability beyond the conference.
It’s very common for me to visit markets and meet bartenders who graduated from Learning for Life. They speak proudly about the program, and many who began behind the bar are now bar owners. That’s when we see the real impact: we are transforming lives, strengthening communities and contributing to the sustainable development of the industry. This program embodies exactly what we believe in: growing by doing what is right.”
Anyone in Brazil aged 18 or older interested in participating in Learning for Life can visit @learningforlife_br on Instagram. More information about Diageo’s global initiatives is available at diageo.com and on the company’s official profile, @diageobr.
