Conserving water and energy

Pernod Ricard’s industrial activities have limited impact on the environment.
Dedicated to the conservation of natural resources, the Group makes every effort to reduce its energy and water consumption.

Conserving water

Water is essential to the development of Pernod Ricard products. The Group has always maintained an exceptional record with respect to this irreplaceable source of life.
Most of the Group’s water usage is for the refrigeration of its distillation units. Water is generally taken from underground aquifers or from rivers close to industrial sites; it is then returned to the natural environment.

Initiatives aiming to conserve the water supply:
  • In the vineyards in Australia, Spain and Argentina, the Group uses a hydrous stress measurement technique for plants to optimise water use. A drop-by-drop irrigation system provides just the amount of water necessary for optimal fruit growth.
  • For the Pernod site in Cubzac (France), reducing consumption of cleaning water is a priority. Water consumption was reduced by 9% in 2004 with better fermenting room management. A new action plan established in 2006, including the implementation of an automatic fermenting room cleaning system, should further reduce the site’s water consumption by about 10%.
  • In Armenia, the renovation of underground pipe networks resulted in the conservation of over 80,000 cubic metres of water in 2005-2006.
In 2005-2006, Pernod Ricard’s average consumption was 6.27 cubic metres of water per 1,000 litres of finished product. The results were notable, and represent a 9.9% decrease compared to 2004-2005.

Conserving energy

Pernod Ricard limits the amount of energy used in its operations: electricity, gas, fuel and coal, in particular.
  • In the Czech Republic, at the Bohatice facility, replacement of the heating system resulted in a 20% reduction in gas consumption, a saving of around 300 MWh.
  • In Spain, at the Ruavieja facility, electricity consumption was reduced by 30% by changing the roof to provide more natural lighting.