Sustainability and our partners

C&C Group recognises that sustainability needs to be embraced by partners at every stage of the supply chain to be successful.  To support our efforts, we have partnered with Sedex to capture ESG data from our suppliers.  Audits and reviews are conducted over the lifetime of a major supplier’s contract to assess supplier performance in environmental management, health and safety and labour practices.

Collaboration with our apple and barley growers

We are committed to sourcing our raw materials from local sustainable sources.  The health and sustainability of the Irish apple growing sector is therefore central to C&C Group strategy. All apples crushed at the Clonmel site to produce Bulmers and Magners cider are sourced from the Island of Ireland. As well as having partner growers on the island we have 165 acres of our own orchards in Co. Tipperary. A key aspect of apple orcharding is the health of the population of bees and other pollinating insects. As part of our commitment to protect the biodiversity of bees, C&C Group continue as a patron of the All-Ireland Pollinator. This year at our Bulmer’s site, one third of all grassy areas are mown under a pollinator friendly regime and 35m² of land is now dedicated to pollinator friendly containers and a bee hotel.

In Scotland, our Tennent’s range is brewed using 100% Scottish malt. Working with our suppliers we support our barley and wheat growers through long-term supply arrangements. We procure malting barley from farms enrolled in independently audited farm assurance schemes, with over 90% of supply achieving gold accreditation from the Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA). The FSA is a globally recognised standard that supports farmers and enables C&C Group to validate on-farm sustainability in our supply chain.

Source water optimisation and water usage reduction

In FY2025, continuing the flow of continuous improvement activity with our operations team, the Group achieved a water efficiency ratio of 3.3:1. Since2020, (base year), water usage at both Wellpark and Clonmel has reduced (24% and 39% respectively).

In 2024, we have commissioned an air rinsing facility in our Wellpark can line, replacing a water system that consumed more than 14 million litres in 2023.

In addition, we continue to operate our anaerobic digestion (water treatment) plants at both Wellpark and Clonmel reducing sites wastewater emissions, improving the quality of wastewater discharged by c. 90%. In FY2025, C&C again participated in the CDP Water Security questionnaire and achieved a B- rating.

Achieving the highest sourcing standards – Rename Supplier Engagement and Trade Partners

Our supplier engagement approach is continuously reviewed and improved.

Key suppliers have been invited to present at our Ethical and Sustainable Procurement SteerCo to build stronger relationships and provide a forum to share information on strategy and approach. C&C Group continue to engage with wine suppliers focusing on sustainability throughout our events and communications in the year.

Bibendum are members of Harpers Sustainability Charter as a Sustainability Champion and the Sustainable Wine Roundtable. Both membership organisations provide a greater opportunity for knowledge sharing and collaboration across the wine producing supply chain.