Beer brewing giant Carlsberg Group has attributed its strong 2018 results in part to sustainability and its recent initiatives. CEO Cees ’t Hart says that in 2018, the company accelerated top-line growth, improved margins, delivered a strong cash flow and reduced debt, all of which demonstrate that “we are living our purpose of brewing for a better today and tomorrow, proving that successful business is sustainable business.”
How has Carlsberg Group improved costs and its impact on the environment? According to its just-released sustainability report, the company has reduced water consumption by 9% since 2015 and increased its global use of renewable energy to 46% (up 5% since 2015). In Wesstern Europe, 100% of its electricity comes from renewable resources. This renewable energy comes from sources like biogas, biomass, solar, wind and hydro, the company says.
Additionally, the company introduced new technology - three years in development - that reduces multipack plastic usage by up to 76%. The new Snap Pack uses glue technology to hold multipacks together; beer consumers simply snap the cans apart. Eventually, when the Snap Pack is fully rolled out, the company estimates it will reduce its total use of secondary plastic packaging by more than 1,200 metric tons annually.
And in a first for Sweden, Carlsberg’s PUREST beer is made from recycled wastewater.
Carlsberg’s commitment to sustainability helped it land on the Forbes Global 2000 list as the most highly regarded beverage company in the world, The company is appealing to environmentally-minded consumers with initiatives like bottles made from wood fiber, according to the Nordic Business Insider. The bottle in development will minimize the use of energy intensive materials like aluminum and non-renewable materials like plastic. The sustainable aspect of the bottle gives it a unique selling point and is expected to help the company expand its market, writes Food Dive.
We are still accepting submissions for the 2019 Environmental Leader Awards. Learn more and submit a project or product here.
