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Industry leaders set to gather for Sustainability in Drinks

03 October 2024 By Michael Huband

The inaugural Sustainability in Drinks event brings key global players to the heart of London. What can visitors expect from the two days?

Janet Harrison and Judy Kendrick, founders and directors of Sustainability in Drinks

You would struggle to attend a drinks event in 2024 without hearing the phrase ‘sustainability’. Any business working in the drinks trade knows it needs an answer ready when it is asked for its latest sustainable initiatives. Yet it is still rare to see an event dedicated to the industry’s green and ethical challenges, and certainly rare to see one of a considerable size. The founders of Sustainability in Drinks are seeking to redress that, with its inaugural conference and exhibition this October.

Taking place on 14 and 15 October, Sustainability in Drinks brings together leading thinkers and key players in the drinks industry. The sold-out conference on Monday 14 October features keynote speakers Jancis Robinson OBE MW and Judith Batchelar OBE, alongside experts from Sustainability in Drinks’ founding partners. The overall theme of ‘Creating Value through Sustainability’ will tackle the complex subject with an eye on both responsibility and commercial sense.

For those who were not able to secure a conference ticket, the second day’s exhibition promises both forward-looking discussions and a chance to network with industry leaders. With free tickets available to the trade, it will welcome a wide range of stakeholders under one roof for a significant addition to the UK’s trade calendar. As it increasingly influences consumer habits, sustainability-minded buyers should certainly have the exhibition on their radars.

Answering the big questions

What makes a product sustainable? Which producers are best in class when it comes to sustainable practices? What official certification schemes are there to choose from? And what about the packaging, the bottling and other elements of the supply chain? How do these affect how sustainable a product is?

The list of questions you might ask when assessing sustainability criteria can be daunting. However, Sustainability in Drinks has gone to considerable lengths to gather together the businesses with the answers.

The event is taking over St. Mary’s, Marylebone in central London on 15 October.

Spanning producers, distributors, packaging companies, certification bodies and other trade organisations, the exhibition offers a 360° look at sustainability in the industry. Each has been vetted by the event’s sustainability experts to ensure they meet the its rigorous criteria.

Among the experts on hand will be Laura Catena, the driving force behind Argentina’s Catena Zapata; Meagan Littlejohn from the New Zealand Winegrowers sustainability programme; and packaging pioneers from Moth Cocktails, Packamama and Alchemy Wines. A full list of exhibitors can be found here.

The day will also feature five Sustainability in Drinks discussions. These panel events are free to attend, although pre-registration is required as space is limited.

Two sessions will look at the evolving landscape in sustainability, titled ‘The Future Direction of Sustainability’ and ‘The Race to Net Zero’. Another pair will hone in on specific industry sectors: ‘Engaging the Supply Chain in the Sustainability Journey’ and ‘The Great Packaging Debate’. For those beginning their journey, there will also be a host of practical tips in ‘Getting Started in Sustainability’.

Led by experts

Sustainability in Drinks is the brainchild of directors Judy Kendrick and Janet Harrison. They bring considerable experience in the world of events: Kendrick founded The Specialist Importers Trade Tasting, Esoterica and Wines Unearthed while Harrison created the People’s Choice Drinks Awards and is the owner of Cracking Wine.

The two directors are joined by two sustainability consultants. Anne Jones, Wine GB’s Sustainability Ambassador, and Fran Draper, a chartered marketer with a specialism in sustainability, each bring intimate knowledge of sustainability from varied experiences in the drinks trade.

With a wide range of exhibitors, the exhibition is clearly well-suited to those buyers looking to highlight sustainability in their portfolio. However, with opportunities to network across all aspects of the trade, the exhibitors are likewise excited.

“Sustainability in Drinks is a new and critical forum to explore the sector’s journey to net zero and accelerate the steps to be undertaken across the sector to decarbonise. We are very excited to join it,” says Isabel DiVanna, associate director and practice sales lead (agriculture, food & drink) at the Carbon Trust.

Her excitement is mirrored at the WSTA. “I’m delighted to be part of this year’s SID conference,” says Freddie Joosten, its head of environment policy. “By sharing knowledge and collaborating on innovative solutions, we can accelerate the transition to an affordable circular economy and create a more sustainable future across our industry.”

Find out more about Sustainability in Drinks or register to receive your free ticket here.

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