Recently, the Institute of Sustainable Development Goals (Tsinghua SDG Institute/TUSDG), Pernod Ricard China and Kantar published China's first “Sustainable Bar Initiative and Operational Guidelines” in Shanghai. The Initiative and the Operational Guidelines focus on the bar economy, establish a sustainable development concept for the Chinese bar industry, and promote the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the industry.
The initiative and the guide are based on an in-depth industry-wide survey of 15 bar representatives from three major cities in China - Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen - and a questionnaire survey of 300 senior Chinese bar practitioners in the three cities. According to the final report, there is a general consensus that 7 of the 17 SDGs are of 'high' relevance to the bar industry, with SDG6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) being particularly important. 58% of practitioners felt that Sustainability is very important to the development of bars, with 61% of practitioners agreeing that bars should operate on a sustainable model.
As consumers, especially the younger generation, become more environmentally conscious, the concept of sustainability is gaining ground and influencing consumer behavior, with consumers preferring brands and companies that share these values. This has prompted the bar industry to take on more social responsibility for sustainable development, giving rise to the concept of the “sustainable bar” - a bar management model dedicated to conserving energy, minimizing waste, promoting recycling, and guiding responsible consumption. It is a model of bar management that aims to conserve energy, reduce waste, promote recycling, promote responsible consumption, and bring better social benefits to those who work in it, as well as harmonizing with the communities in which it operates. The joint release of the Sustainable Bar Initiative and Operational Guidelines is the first comprehensive and innovative initiative of its kind for the Chinese bar industry, helping to raise awareness and adoption of sustainability across the industry.
“As a global issue, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a multi-dimensional social responsibility benchmarking framework for governments, enterprises, and social organizations, and also enrich and expand the practice areas of sustainable development, which can be implemented by enterprises by combining the characteristics of their own industries and the advantages of their resources.” Prof. Zhu Xufeng, Associate Dean of School of Public Policy & Management, Tsinghua University (SPMM) and Executive Director of the Institute of Sustainable Development Goals of Tsinghua University (TUSDG), said, “This time, our cooperation with Pernod Ricard China is a useful exploration and attempt under this framework. The initiative of sustainable bars in China and the shared operational guidelines released this time actively promote the sustainable operation of bars in China with trending guidelines and quantitative measurements, leading companies to explore the path of sustainable development goals.”
Mr. Jean-Etienne Gourgues, Managing Director of Pernod Ricard China, said: “As a responsible corporate citizen, this release of the Sustainable Bar Initiative and Operational Guidelines is in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, and the eight objectives to be achieved by 2030 set out are aligned with the Group's 2030 CSR Action Plan. This is a localized interpretation and commitment of Pernod Ricard China to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In the future, Pernod Ricard China will work together with researchers, managers and practitioners in the field of sustainable development to integrate the SDGs into Pernod Ricard China's value creation.”
Scan QR code for the Guidelines (Chinese Version)
