Pernod Ricard beefs up CSR services
Pernod Ricard Korea CEO Jean-Manuel Spriet, left, poses with Daegu Mayor Kim Yeon-chang in a design center in the southeastern city in September after agreeing to donate blankets to the underprivileged made there from recycled textiles. / Courtesy of Pernod Ricard
By Kim Jae-won
Pernod Ricard Korea said Thursday that it has initiated several corporate social responsibility projects in major cities in provincial regions.
The Korean unit of the French liquor company said that its programs range from creating an urban farm in Gwangju to donating blankets made from recycled textiles in Daegu.
It has also established a monitoring system on the quality of water of a Daejeon stream, the company said.
Pernod Ricard teamed up with a group of researchers of Chungnam National Univeristy led by professor Seo Dong-il last month to improve quality of water in Gwanpyeong Stream that runs through the city.
Employees and executives of the company, including French CEO Jean-Manuel Spriet, took part in a conference on preserving the stream along with officials of the municipal government, students of the college and residents of the region.
In Gwangju, the company signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in creating urban farms in the southwestern city in October. The liquor maker promised to donate some of its profits from Imperial Classic 12 Gwangju Edition whisky to the project.
In September, the company donated 1,000 blankets to low-income households in Daegu and part of its profits from the sales of its newly released whisky to local community centers.
Non-profit organization Daegu Gyeongbuk Design Center made the blankets from material donated from the city’s clothing companies. Daegu has long been popular for its competitive textile industry.
“One of the key corporate philosophies of Pernod Ricard is to take social responsibilities in the local community and contribute to their development. I am glad that we can practice an important value of the group here,” said Manuel in a statement.
The company has been strengthening its corporate social responsibility programs in Korea. Pernod Ricard donated 100 million won to the municipal government of Busan in February for the city’s project to establish bicycle-only paths. The southeastern port city plans to use the funds to promote bicycle use.