You launched Sustainability in Drinks last autumn - how did you feel the first year went vs your hopes and expectations?
The first year was a huge success with far more of an international reach than we’d anticipated.We had over 400 visitors, including the conference and exhibition, with visitors and speakers from eight different countries, including the US, the Nordics, New Zealand and Argentina.
It was clear the event was much needed and that it should be an annual fixture in the drinks industry calendar, with SID 2025 incorporating an even greater global perspective in terms of learning, information sharing and peer to peer support.
The first Sustainability in Drinks event was the first of its kind on that scale to be held in the UK
It wasn’t just the event itself which was incredibly useful, we had so much positive feedback on the conversations taking place in the coffee area and the freedom and ability to connect with like-minded individuals in an informal setting.The energy ‘in the room’ was such that it even sparked some impromptu after show events.
We also had a meeting at the end of the day with representatives from Wines of New Zealand, Wines of California, major retailers, UK advisory bodies and The Buyer, which has subsequently become ‘Beyond SID’, an informal information sharing forum and advisory panel to help shape future events.
You are now launching the second year with a revised format - what changes have you made and why have you made them?
We commissioned an independent report on the effectiveness of the event, alongside feedback and comments from exhibitors and visitors.The SID Talks, conference debates with major keynote speakers and advisory sessions were all oversubscribed and it became clear that visitors really needed more of this type of help and support and in even greater detail.
In some ways, the tasting element of the event became secondary, despite visitors still needing to source sustainable products and having many buyers in attendance from major retailers, such as Tesco and Waitrose, independent retailers, major pub groups and distributors.So we took this on board, listened to the suggestions and have restructured SID to make it even more relevant for the drinks industry, across all sectors.
The feedback from the first SID event was that delegates wanted to be able to hear and share more views and insights with an extended talks programme
The second edition of Sustainability in Drinks, will be another groundbreaking event uniting global drinks industry leaders and policymakers to address sustainability challenges. It will be an unmissable opportunity to connect, learn, and engage with the people shaping the sustainable future of drinks — whether you produce, sell, serve, or support drinks businesses.
We will very much still have producers exhibiting, but they will focus far more on the sustainability credentials of the wines and spirits, certification schemes and land health, with their representatives able to present details of traceability, carbon footprinting and other details which visitors, including buyers and sustainability managers, are keen to know about.
However, there will be a greater focus on learning and information sharing, with new deep-dive workshops, SID Talks and an inspiring climax with a high-profile panel debate including learnings from other industries, finishing with a major keynote speaker, networking and drinks.
What plans have you made so far in terms of content and what subjects you will be most looking forward to focus on?
The first SID event included talks from influential figures such as Jancis Robinson MW - the 2025 event is promising to attract other major figures
For the latest details on the programme, see here: https://sustainabilityindrinks.com/visit-programme/
The main floor of SID will be split into the following four exhibitor zones:
- Land health.
- Packaging.
- Carbon management.
- Sustainable society.
Within each zone will be practical workshops where people can work in smaller groups and the exhibitors within the Zones will be part of the conversation.Each workshop will be facilitated by an industry expert and all those in attendance will be able to contribute and ask questions.
SID Workshops: They will be relevant to each exhibitor zone and include subjects such as:
- Sustainable wines – a deep dive into organic, biodynamic and regenerative farming.
- The importance of soil health.
- Managing and improving the impact of glass in the supply chain.
- Alternative packaging success stories.
- Getting started with carbon footprinting.
- The value of carbon - using sequestration to mitigate emissions and enhance natural capital.
- Labour standards across the supply chain.
- Inclusivity and cultural change.
There will also be a number of producers taking part sharing the steps they are taking to follow sustainability strategies
SID Talks: In the education zone, there will be three SID Talks involving industry experts and thought leaders – essentially a panel debate with Q&A session on the following subjects:
To certify or not to certify…. From Regenerative Organic to B Corp, what are the pros and cons of certification? Do customers recognise and choose specific labels? Does it add a price premium that is worth the additional cost and paperwork?
Sustainable retail, hospitality and distribution: Given the importance of supply chain for the drinks industry, discovering what retailers and distributors are doing and can do to play their part in reducing emissions and encouraging sustainable practices.
Creating value from sustainability: How to make a business case to invest in sustainable practices throughout your business.
You are also looking to bring in more expertise from outside the industry?
The finale of SID 2025 will be an unmissable opportunity to hear from c-suite speakers and cross-industry leaders tackling urgent sustainability challenges and opportunities, followed by a powerful keynote address (speaker TBA).Afterwards, there is the opportunity to network informally with speakers, policymakers and global advisory bodies.A unique environment in which to share experiences, forge new partnerships and exchange ideas.
Visitors will be able to enjoy sustainable wines from Founding Partners: WASP (Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Programme) and Maison Mirabeau, alongside locally sourced light food.
Are you still welcoming contributions from companies or individuals who might want to take part in the debates and seminars?
We are still welcoming enquiries from companies that wish to exhibit within each of the areas outlined above, as well as an opportunity to speak as part of a workshop or SID Talk.
We will also be staging a number of ‘Pop-up’ clinics for advice on specific subjects (for example sustainable finance), so are looking for companies who feel they have real value to offer to visitors and would like to host a walk-up session.
We also have a small number of sponsorship opportunities for companies wanting a greater involvement in SID and that would like to show their support for this much-needed event. For any enquiries contact hello@sustainabilitydrinks.com.
How to visit Sustainability in Drinks
SID 2025 will be a fully ticketed event and breaks down into three ways:
* £50 per person for attending the exhibition, all workshops and SID Talks.
* The high-profile panel discussion, keynote speech and networking element is priced at £99 per person and includes wine and food as detailed above.
* Or visitors can purchase an all day ticket, including access to the whole event for a discounted price of £125.This includes attending the exhibition, workshops, SID Talks, high-profile panel discussion, keynote address and the networking session (which includes wine and food).
Special Early Booking Offer: There is a 25% discount on all ticket types for bookings made before May 31 2025. To take advantage of this offer, use coupon code SID25 at check out.
To find out more click here.
