IRELAND -Diageo has launched a trial of its innovative new Everpour keg and integrated bottle dispensing system, starting with the Smirnoff vodka brand in Dublin, Ireland.  

The Everpour system, designed in collaboration with Hodges & Drake Design, offers a sustainable solution for bars by providing a bottle refill system for spirits in the on-trade sector. 

The Everpour system features two keg variants: a 17.5-litre and a 5-litre keg. Once a keg is emptied, Diageo collects, cleans, and refills it before returning it to the bar. This closed-loop process significantly reduces the need for single-use bottles.  

Diageo claims that Everpour could cut the carbon emissions of every litre of Smirnoff by 50 percent. Furthermore, the larger 17.5-litre keg is estimated to replace 500 single-use 70cl bottles over its lifespan. 

Dave Lutkenhaus, Diageo’s global sustainability innovation director, expressed enthusiasm for the project: “This is a huge milestone for Diageo, as we trial our first bespoke Diageo-led circular economy system for spirits in the on-trade.  

We’ve designed Everpour based on years of insights from the industry to ensure it is both convenient and desirable for bartenders, while also reducing our carbon emissions. We’re excited to see the results from this trial to inform our next product development phase.” 

Everpour is the latest sustainability initiative from Diageo, aligning with the company’s wider efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of its key brands as part of its ESG action plan, Spirit of Progress.  

Diageo has set ambitious goals to drive sustainability across its operations and brands. 

Last year, Diageo said it was working with circular packaging company EcoSpirits on the roll-out of the Ecotote systems in 2024 and would conduct an analysis of the pilot’s results in three years to judge the “sustainability benefits” of the system.  

EcoSpirits’ main system is called Ecotote, a re-useable glass container that holds 4.5 litres of liquid, held inside a branded outer shell. It aims to reduce packaging waste by providing on-premise locations with branded refillable containers. 

In addition to the Everpour trial, Diageo has also made strides in lightweight glass bottle production.  

In September, the company unveiled a limited-edition Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra, featuring its lightest 70cl glass bottle to date, weighing just 180g without the closure. 

The new bottle, weighing just 180g without the closure, was developed to push the boundaries of lightweighting glass.    

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE