Budweiser brewer extends environmental goals

Stella Artois and Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) is ramping up its environmental commitment with seven new global goals that aim to reduce water risks and improve its water management.

In addition, the Belgium beer giant, for the first time, has set global goals on packaging materials reduction and eco-friendly cooler purchases.

“Our approach recognises that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to improve sustainability,” said Carlos Brito, ceo. “The key will be to leverage the experience and expertise of our colleagues globally, foster a collective approach through partnerships with local stakeholders, and continue to scale best practices across our company.”

The goals are:

• Reduce water risks and improve water management in 100% of its key barley growing regions;
• Engage in watershed protection measures at 100% of its facilities located in key areas in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Mexico, Peru and the US;
• reduce global water usage to a leading-edge 3.2 hectoliters of water per hectoliter of production;
• Reduce global greenhouse gas emissions per hectoliter of production by 10%, including a 15% reduction per hectoliter in China;
• Reduce global energy usage per hectoliter of production by 10%;
• Reduce packaging materials by 100,000 tons, which is equivalent to the weight of about a quarter of a billion full cans of beer;
• Reach a 70% global average of eco-friendly cooler purchases annually..

The goals apply across 24 countries and have an achievement target date of 2017. The new commitments build on the company’s three-year global environmental achievements reached at the end of 2012 from a 2009 baseline.