Ahead of COP27, Asahi Europe & International (AEI) has highlighted how collaboration between business, NGOs, and academia can lead to stronger progress towards carbon neutrality with meaningful results. Aligned with its purpose of creating meaningful connections with people and planet, Asahi Europe & International has focused on bringing industry, government, and climate experts together to progress impactful climate action. AEI’s key collaborative initiatives include membership in the UN-backed Race To Zero campaign and RE100, the global corporate energy initiative led by the international NGO Climate Group and the company is on track to achieve carbon neutrality in its breweries by 2030 and across its wider supply chain by 2050.
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Asahi Europe & International’s (AEI) overall carbon footprint has decreased by over 40% since 2010.
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AEI breweries in Poland and the Netherlands are all now powered by 100% renewable electricity
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AEI’s ambition is for all of its breweries in Europe to be carbon neutral by 2030.
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For Hops programme has partnered with Microsoft and Czech hop growing farmers to analyse changes to soil and growing conditions and optimise sustainability..
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Asahi has collaborated with multiple climate positivity partners to advance its Legacy 2030 sustainability ambitions including: Microsoft, Race to Zero, RE100, World Federation of Advertisers and AI experts from TensoAI.
Collaborative partnerships have been crucial for AEl’s progress to date across all areas of its Legacy 2030 sustainability programme. For example, using green energy and partnering with RWE Renewables in Poland Asahi decreased their carbon footprint there by 66% in just two years. In the Netherlands, Grolsch packaging is now 100% plastic-free by using an innovative Top Clip solution of fully recyclable, biodegradable packaging. This cardboard packaging saves more than 100,000 kg of plastic every year – an equivalent of four million new plastic bags.
While the company has made significant progress, AEl recognises that there is much more that needs to be done. Today, water consumption for AEI’s European breweries is already best in class worldwide, reduced to an average of 2.82 litres of water per litre of beer brewed. By 2030, the brewer aims to improve this even further to an average of 2.75 litres of water for each litre of beer. Breweries will focus on operational efficiency and investing in new technologies to minimise water consumption.
This significant progress towards carbon neutrality goals has led to AEI being recognised with the Changemaker Award in the RE100 Leadership Awards 2022 announced at Climate Group’s annual Climate Week in New York. At a local level across its European operations the business has also been recognised for its commitment to sustainability, most recently winning the Trendsetter for Sustainability and Best Sustainability Report in the Czech Republic, underlining its commitment to transparency and the highest standards of reporting which corresponds with the rules of non-financial reporting prepared by the European Commission.
Paolo Lanzarotti, CEO of Asahi Europe & International, said: “Today we bring together a wide range of leading voices in sustainability to demonstrate the achievements that can be made when we join forces to go further and faster in the race to net zero. Climate change is a global challenge that must be met with global solutions – and collaboration has never been more important. In practice that means businesses, academia, NGOs, and governments combining their different skills, expertise and commitments and taking collective action.”
AEI has a proven commitment to collaboration and collective action in sustainability across a range of initiatives and organisations. AEI is a member of the UN-backed Race To Zero campaign, bringing together businesses, cities, regions, and investors committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest, and meeting the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global heating to 1.5ºC. AEI is also an active member of the Brewers of Europe chairing the sustainability subcommittee; advocates for sustainability as part of the Consumer Goods Forum; is signed up to the WFA’s Planet Pledge; and reports to the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices.
