USA – Several leading global beverage companies have announced the formation of the REfresh Alliance, a consortium focused on accelerating the adoption of renewable energy within the beverage industry’s supply chain.
This industry-wide collaboration is designed to reduce Scope 3 emissions, which constitute approximately 90 percent of the total carbon footprint in beverage production.
The REfresh Alliance, managed by Enel X—a prominent energy solutions provider—will offer resources and guidance to suppliers, helping them navigate the transition to renewable energy.
By removing barriers to adoption, such as lack of access to education or renewable energy providers, the alliance seeks to foster a streamlined, collective approach to decarbonization across the sector.
Enel X will play a crucial role by connecting alliance members with renewable energy suppliers and facilitating efficient transactions.
Companies in the alliance include; Coca-Cola, Diageo, Heineken, Bacardi, Carlsberg, Constellation Brands, Molson Coors Beverage Company, Whyte & Mackay, and Pernod Ricard.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners’ Chief Procurement Officer Ralf Peters highlighted the importance of supporting supply chain partners in reducing emissions.
“Encouraging them to transition to renewables is one of the most impactful things we can do to help decarbonise their businesses,” he said.
The Coca-Cola Company reports that while 7 percent of its emissions are from Scope 1 direct sources, like fossil fuels and fleet vehicles, and 5 percent from Scope 2 indirect sources, such as electricity, the bulk of emissions comes from Scope 3 sources, predominantly within the supply chain.
The REfresh Alliance has already engaged over 300 suppliers in initial discussions, aiming to understand the specific areas where support is needed for renewable energy adoption.
A core feature of the initiative will be the creation of an educational platform that will provide participants with the essential knowledge and resources needed to make this transition.
Initial alliance efforts will be concentrated in Europe and North America, where renewable energy infrastructure is well-established, before expanding into other regions to increase global impact.
Jane Liang, Chief Procurement Officer at Diageo, said: “The climate crisis is the most pressing issue of our time and the transition to net zero is becoming increasingly important. However, there is only so much we can do as individual businesses. The REfresh Alliance will drive collective action within the industry to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy.”
Diageo has committed to achieving net zero across its direct operations by 2030 and across its Scope 3 emissions by 2050.
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