Carlsberg aims for zero carbon emissions by 2030

The Carlsberg Group has announced it will commit to eliminating carbon emissions and halving water usage at its breweries by 2030.

These measures form part of ‘Together Towards Zero’ – Carlsberg’s new sustainability programme. The group also plans to power breweries using exclusively renewable electricity by 2022.

Together Towards Zero, created with the guidance of global experts, if successful, will deliver emission reductions ‘that go beyond the base level of ambition set out in the Paris Agreement on climate change.’

Among Carlsberg’s other environmental promises, it is aiming to reduce beer-in-hand emissions by 30% by 2030. Beer-in-hand emissions are defined as those that relate to the ‘full life-cycle carbon footprint of a product,’ for example agricultural production, transport logistics and retail refrigeration.

In line with its efforts to halve water usage, the Carlsberg Group is working with the WWF to identify breweries located in high-risk water scarcity areas and improve water management at these sites in particular.

As part of its Sail ’22 strategy, the Carlsberg Group is also targeting 100% distribution of its alcohol-free beer by 2022 and ‘a year-on year reduction’ in the employee accident rate. It pledges to do its part both to encourage responsible drinking and to provide nutritional information for its products online as well as on packaging.

Finally, under the leadership of the Carlsberg Research Laboratory, the group will establish a community of young scientists to ‘help foster further scientific developments within carbon dioxide, water and sustainable brewing.’

Cees ‘t Hart, CEO of the Carlsberg Group said: “Global challenges such as climate change and water scarcity require strong collective action, and with Together Towards ZERO we’re setting new industry standards for science-based and partnership-driven sustainability as part of our SAIL’22 strategy.

“We’re committed to delivering zero carbon emissions and halving water usage at our breweries by 2030. As a first action, we’ll switch to 100% renewable electricity by 2022 and cooperate with partners to protect shared water resources in selected water-scarce areas. I’m certain that in achieving our targets we’ll create efficiency improvements, risk reduction and a more resilient business that exists in harmony with local communities and the environment.”

“Our clear targets and ambitions reflect the mentality of our founders to always strive for perfection and contribute to society through science. The world needs leadership, which is why we’ve made it a top priority to improve the world of tomorrow in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

Those wishing to follow Carlsberg’s progress on social media can do so using the hashtag #TowardsZERO.