Global collaboration search for sustainable tech innovators
As part of Diageo’s recently announced Society 2030: Spirit of Progress sustainability action plan, the maker of Johnnie Walker, Guinness and Smirnoff is offering innovators across the globe the chance to collaborate on developing the next generation of technology that will address sustainability challenges within the company’s supply chain.
The Diageo Sustainable Solutions programme gives innovators the opportunity to submit ideas for a number of key ‘challenges’ set by the drinks maker, the first round of which is now open in the areas of energy, water, packaging circularity (glass bottles) and agriculture.
The scheme aims to accelerate the development of big ideas and solutions that can make a step change in sustainable thinking and to share some of the most powerful insights developed by the programme across industry.
“If you have an innovative idea that could make a big difference to the world then we want to talk to you” says Diageo Sustainable Solutions lead, John Cant. “We welcome new thinking and want to collaborate on new concepts, with companies and with people to advance a more sustainable world for everyone. We are asking innovators everywhere to consider how we can work in smarter ways together to make a bigger impact.”
Successful applications will be developed within collaborative pilot projects and participants given up to six months to develop their ideas and demonstrate proof of concept.
Dedicated Diageo experts in each field will be on-hand to provide support and successful schemes will be considered for scaling up beyond the initial pilot. Diageo is also pledging up to £100,000 worth of funding for each pilot project.
To develop the programme, Diageo has been working with clean technology industry leader the Cleantech Group.
The consultancy are global experts in the development and marketing of sustainable technologies and will be on-hand during development to offer support for innovators on each project.
The first round of applications will close on 16 December and a second round of challenges will open for submission in early 2021.
