Materiality & stakeholder management

We have been addressing our most material issues for a long time and our Spirit of Progress action plan builds on our successful ESG track record. We focus on the issues which matter most, to our business, to our stakeholders and partners and to the wider world.

In 2020, we launched our ten-year ‘Spirit of Progress’ ESG action plan, aligning it with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The plan was informed by a comprehensive materiality assessment conducted in 2019 by our Global team at Diageo Plc, in collaboration with its global entities, including Diageo India. This assessment assessed external trends influencing our operating environment and involved extensive engagement with diverse internal and external stakeholders. Their perspectives and findings were prioritised through workshops held with multiple business functions, including India. The process and the outcomes were reviewed and finalised through multiple deliberations with the Executive Committee and our Board. In FY 23-24, we reviewed our material issues, in consultation with both internal and external stakeholders to stay attuned with the shifts in the business landscape and stakeholder perceptions. The insights from the materiality exercise are incorporated into our business strategies and priorities to drive lasting value creation.

Download the materiality matrix

Spirit of Progress is our ongoing ESG action plan, addresses the most significant environmental and social opportunities and risks Diageo faces. It has three priorities to Promote positive drinking, Champion inclusion and diversity and Pioneer grain-to-glass sustainability. Doing business the right way underpins everything we do.

See how our ESG approach measures up to reporting standards.