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Sustainable NationAuthor: Josh Prigge: CEO of Sustridge Sustainability Consulting
The Sustainable Nation Podcast delivers interviews with global leaders in sustainability and ESG. Our goal is to provide sustainability and ESG professionals, business leaders, academics, government officials and anyone interested in joining the sustainability revolution, with information and insights from the world's most inspiring change-makers. Language: en Genres: Business, Earth Sciences, Science Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Kim Marotta - Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer and Head of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) at Suntory Global Spirits
Episode 188
Monday, 20 October, 2025
Kim Marotta is the Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer and Head of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) at Suntory Global Spirits, a global premium spirits leader with iconic brands including Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, and Hibiki. Kim spearheads the company's development and implementation of long-term sustainability initiatives through its Proof Positive strategy, ensuring a comprehensive approach across the entire value chain. Kim also plays a crucial role in integrating risk management into the company's core strategies to drive growth and enhance organizational resilience. Before joining Suntory Global Spirits, Kim spent nearly two decades with Molson Coors Beverage Company and its predecessor companies, where she served as Global Senior Director of Sustainability and ERM. Kim holds degrees from Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School. After completing law school, she served as The Deputy State Public Defender and an adjunct law professor at Marquette University Law School. Kim currently serves on the boards of Maker's Mark Distillery and Marquette University National Alumni Association. Kim also served on the Keurig-Dr. Pepper advisory board and was appointed by the Governor of Wisconsin to the Great Lakes Protection Fund. Recognized as a leader in sustainability, Kim has been named among Crain's Notable Leaders in Sustainability, Assent's Top 100 Corporate Social Responsibility Influence Leaders, and Triple Pundit's Top 35 Female CSR Leaders. She is a sought-after speaker and has been featured in media outlets such as Fortune, The Guardian, the Economist, Reuters, Cheddar News, and CNBC. Additionally, she has been an invited lecturer at the University of Chicago, the University of North Carolina, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Marquette University. Kim Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: Integration of sustainability and risk management: Suntory Global Spirits' Proof Positive strategy Achieving water reduction goals using employee incentives Suntory's supplier engagement program Scaling regenerative agriculture Listen as Kim Marotta shares insights from her two-decade-long career in sustainability, particularly within the alcohol industry, and discusses her unique path from public defense into corporate sustainability leadership. She provides an overview of Suntory Global Spirits' global operations and explains how Japanese cultural values influence the company's holistic and long-term approach to sustainability. Kim delves into the development and execution of the company's Proof Positive sustainability strategy, touching on key areas such as water conservation, carbon and energy reductions, sustainable sourcing, and regenerative agriculture. She highlights how Suntory has achieved a 50% reduction in water use per unit and is pushing ambitious climate targets, including engaging suppliers in emissions reductions. Kim also discusses the integration of sustainability and risk management, the importance of tying employee incentives to progress on sustainability goals, and the collaborative, metrics-driven process behind supporting suppliers and farmers in adopting sustainable practices. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the need for cultural commitment, stakeholder engagement, and continual innovation to make meaningful, measurable progress in the industry.
