Cider Takes the Lead Again to Deliver a Sustainable Future

Cider industry leaders told government officials how they are delivering a more sustainable future at a packed Westminster reception last night (Monday).

A reception jointly hosted by the Parliamentary Cider Group and National Association of Cider Makers (NACM) heard how a determination to deliver long-term sustainability is now part of the planning cycle for the industry.

Henry Chevallier, chair of the NACM said: “To ensure we do more than talk about delivering positive change, we have sought to bring rigour and objectivity to our investment in this area.

“In another first for cider, we are working with Business In The Community (BITC) so that we have the processes and framework to identify the progress we are making and to identify areas to address.”

BITC is a business-led charity that promotes responsible and sustainable business practice. In particular the ‘Responsible Business Check Up’ is a gap analysis and benchmarking tool to help develop a strategic approach to corporate responsibility and to integrate and improve responsibility performance through all operations.

A majority of NACM members have already completed the Responsible Business Check Up and a first summary report was discussed by industry leaders in London today (Monday).

Henry Chevallier explained: “We think and plan for the long-term; it is our nature, as is our determination to improve the environment, to deliver value to our partners and to enhance the communities we are part of. However, given the investment we make in sustainability it is important that we are organised to maximise the benefits.

“We intend to imbed sustainability in to all areas of operation, but also to imbed the processes associated with improvement to ensure we can demonstrably measure the benefits being secured by individual businesses and the industry as a whole.”

Already one of the UK’s most sustainable industry – and the most sustainable drinks industry – UK cider has already demonstrated progress. A 12% reduction in CO2 was achieved between 2000 and 2008 and the industry has the stated ambition to be both ‘carbon neutral’ and produce ‘zero waste’ in a decade from now.

Stephen Howard, CEO of BITC said: “We are delighted that NACM has successfully used the Responsible Business Check Up to identify the needs facing their sector.

“I know they have found the process hugely informative in both recognising where they had already started work and also in identifying areas for future focus. In many cases it was the RBCU process that allowed some of their great work to be ‘captured’.

“I look forward to working with them to address these needs as they continue on their responsible business journey.”

Linked to this work is the launch of a new website Cider’s Future (www.cidersfuture.com) which will provide details on the progress being made. It will illustrate how members are working to achieve their aspirations to become the ‘The Model Cider Company’, by providing examples of sustainability and responsibility best practice already being undertaken. The emphasis is on driving improvements in the workplace; the wider environment; with the businesses it works with and with the community it is part of.

Henry Chevallier: “When we develop a model for business and industry growth we want it to be for the long-term – something able to sustain our investment cycle which is measured in decades.”

ENDS

Notes

1.    The UK cider industry now grows more apples than ever before and continues to plant new orchards to keep pace with demand

2.    The  cider industry uses just under half of all UK apples

3.    There was a record harvest in 2011 at nearly 200,000 tonnes of apples

4.    For several years the cider category has been the best performing drinks category

5.    More information on cider and the cider industry can be found at www.cideruk.com

About Business in the Community (BITC)

It is a business-led charity with a growing membership of 850 companies, from large multinational household names to small local businesses and public sector organisations. It advises, supports and challenges its members to create a sustainable future for society and to improve business performance. Members work with BITC to define what responsibility looks like in the workplace, marketplace, community and the environment – what is learnt about driving performance through responsible business practice is shared. www.bitc.org.uk

For more information please call Simon Russell or Gail Painter on 01179 066 570 or email / .

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