Diageo Reduces Carbon Footprint by Replacing Natural Gas with Biomethane in Gimli, Manitoba Facility

Switching from Fossil Fuels to Biomethane Reduces Carbon Emissions by 99 Percent

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Sep 12, 2012, 11:00 ET

NORWALK, Conn., Sept. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo, the world's leading spirits, wine and beer company is proud to announce the replacement of fossil fuel natural gas with biomethane at its Gimli, Manitoba plant where the Company distills Crown Royal whiskey. The use of biomethane, a renewable source that has a neutral impact on carbon emissions, will have a dramatic impact on Gimli's carbon footprint, reducing the CO2 emissions from the plant by more than 99 percent.

"Diageo is committed to increasing sustainability and reducing our environmental impact," said Richard Dunne, Risk Director for Diageo. "This is an important milestone for the environmental goals of all Diageo facilities and further supports our integrated global approach towards reducing our carbon footprint."

Switching to biomethane provides a renewable energy solution for Diageo. The biomethane is captured from the decay of organic matter in landfill sites, a renewable source that has a neutral impact on carbon emissions. The Gimli initiative is an initial three-year partnership with provider Bullfrog Power, Canada's 100 percent green energy provider.

Dunne continued: "Our Operations in Canada have access to some unique alternative energy infrastructure. Converting to biomethane in this one location reduces the global CO2 emissions of Diageo as a whole by 3.4 percent, a significant contribution to the company's global carbon strategy."

About Diageo

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Windsor, Buchanan's and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray, Guinness, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards Wines.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

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SOURCE Diageo