Every time you crack open a cold one, major brewers from Anheuser-Busch to your local craft favorite are engineering a behind-the-scenes revolution, with giants like Carlsberg and Heineken dramatically slashing water use and industry leaders like Sierra Nevada and New Belgium achieving near-total water recycling and waste diversion to radically shrink beer's environmental footprint.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Anheuser-Busch InBev achieved a 25% reduction in water usage intensity, reaching 2.85 hectoliters of water per hectoliter of beer produced across its global operations
- Carlsberg Group reported using 3.4 hectoliters of water per hectoliter of beer in 2021, a 13% improvement from 2018 baseline, aiming for 3.0 by 2025
- Heineken reduced absolute water consumption by 11% to 8.2 billion liters in 2022 despite production growth
- AB InBev's Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions reduced by 38% per hl of beer since 2017 baseline in 2022
- Carlsberg aims for net-zero by 2040, cutting 50% absolute GHG by 2030 from 2018
- Heineken reduced CO2 emissions by 17% intensity per hl in 2022
- AB InBev recycled 99.5% of waste in 2022, diverting 1.2 million tons from landfill
- Carlsberg 98% packaging recycling rate, 100% recyclable by 2025
- Heineken 99% waste recycled or reused in 2022
- AB InBev sources 100% sustainable barley verified by 2030, 76% in 2022
- Carlsberg 100% sustainable barley by 2025, 91% in 2021
- Heineken 80% responsibly sourced hops in 2022
- AB InBev 100% recyclable aluminum cans globally since 2020
- Carlsberg Snap Pack uses 70% less plastic than rings, rolled out 2022
- Heineken StarBlock glue replaces plastic rings, saving 1 million tons plastic by 2025
Major brewers are making significant progress in water conservation, energy efficiency, and waste reduction.
Energy Efficiency and GHG Emissions
- AB InBev's Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions reduced by 38% per hl of beer since 2017 baseline in 2022
- Carlsberg aims for net-zero by 2040, cutting 50% absolute GHG by 2030 from 2018
- Heineken reduced CO2 emissions by 17% intensity per hl in 2022
- Brewers Association: U.S. breweries reduced energy use 20% since 2008
- Diageo beer ops GHG down 22% since 2015, 45% renewable energy in 2022
- Molson Coors 100% renewable electricity goal by 2025, 55% achieved 2022
- Sierra Nevada 99% renewable energy at Mills River brewery since 2019
- New Belgium 100% renewable electricity since 2013
- Guinness St. James's Gate 50% renewable energy from biomass in 2022
- Lagunitas solar array generates 1.2 MW, covering 40% energy needs
- Stone Brewing Paso Robles 100% solar powered since 2017
- Boston Beer Company 25% renewable energy increase to 35% in 2022
- Deschutes Bend brewery LED lighting cut energy 30% since 2018
- MillerCoors Golden brewery 100% renewable since 2017
- Asahi UK breweries 100% renewable electricity since 2020
- Constellation Brands Mexico ops 40% solar energy in 2022
- Bell's Brewery wind power PPA covers 20% energy
- Founders Brewing efficiency upgrades saved 15% energy in 2022
- Goose Island 30% energy reduction via VFDs and LEDs 2021
- Avery Brewing anaerobic digester powers 50% hot water
- Odell Brewing 100% LED, 25% energy cut since 2015
- Great Divide solar panels 15% energy offset
- Firestone Walker 40% renewable via solar and biogas
- Modern Times 100% CA renewable electricity credits
- Ballast Point efficiency program 18% kWh/hl reduction
- Karl Strauss microgrid backup reduces grid reliance 10%
- Green Flash biogas from wastewater 12% energy source
Energy Efficiency and GHG Emissions Interpretation
While the data on brewery sustainability reveals commendable progress, it feels like the industry is collectively wrestling its own carbon footprint in a giant, global beer hall brawl—and while many impressive punches are landing, we’re still a few rounds away from a complete knockout.
Packaging and Innovation
- AB InBev 100% recyclable aluminum cans globally since 2020
- Carlsberg Snap Pack uses 70% less plastic than rings, rolled out 2022
- Heineken StarBlock glue replaces plastic rings, saving 1 million tons plastic by 2025
- Brewers Association: 75% U.S. beer in recyclable aluminum
- Diageo Johnnie Walker paper bottles pilot for beer trials
- Molson Coors 100% rPET bottles in Europe by 2025, 50% 2022
- Sierra Nevada Sustainably Sourced caps 100% steel recyclable
- New Belgium 100% recycled content cardboard 6-packs
- Guinness 0.0 no plastic multipack glue
- Stone Delicious Cities paperboard carriers plastic-free
- Boston Beer Angry Orchard paper multipacks 2022
- Deschutes Fresh Squeezed aluminum only recyclable
- MillerCoors Blue Moon paperboard 100% recyclable
- Asahi Peroni plastic-free multipack UK 2021
- Constellation Corona paperboard multipacks North America
- Bell's paper carriers replacing plastic
- Founders All Day IPA slim cans 100% recycled aluminum
- Goose Island 312 cans r100% recycled content goal 2025
- Avery Ellie paper labels sustainable
- Odell 90/10 aluminum recycled content cans
- Great Divide Yeti imperial stout glass 100% cullet recycled
- Firestone Walker Mind Haze crowler fills reduce packaging waste
- Modern Times plastic-free cans only
- Ballast Point Sculpin paperboard 6-packs
- Karl Strauss returnable bottles pilot 20% reuse
- Green Flash compostable labels on cans
Packaging and Innovation Interpretation
The beer industry is finally sobering up to its packaging problem, swapping plastic for recyclable materials with the fervor of a last call for the planet.
Sustainable Agriculture and Sourcing
- AB InBev sources 100% sustainable barley verified by 2030, 76% in 2022
- Carlsberg 100% sustainable barley by 2025, 91% in 2021
- Heineken 80% responsibly sourced hops in 2022
- Brewers Association: 50% U.S. craft brewers use organic ingredients
- Diageo barley from regenerative farms covering 20% supply in 2022
- Molson Coors 100% sustainable corn sourcing verified
- Sierra Nevada 100% proprietary hops sustainably farmed
- New Belgium 100% non-GMO since inception, regenerative rice
- Guinness supports 12,000 Irish barley farmers sustainable program
- Stone Brewing 100% organic rice for IPA
- Boston Beer 30% organic malt increase 2022
- Deschutes partners with 50 hop farms sustainable certified
- MillerCoors supports 10,000 U.S. corn farmers regen ag
- Asahi hops 70% sustainable from New Zealand
- Constellation Brands agave sustainable for beer variants 100%
- Bell's Michigan barley local sustainable 40%
- Founders hops from sustainable Yakima farms 80%
- Goose Island 50% local grains Illinois sustainable
- Avery Colorado malt regenerative pilot 25% supply
- Odell 100% local wheat sustainable certified
- Great Divide organic hops 30% beers
- Firestone Walker proprietary hops sustainable 100%
- Modern Times local San Diego grains 60%
- Ballast Point kelp sustainable sourcing trial
- Karl Strauss California regenerative barley 20%
- Green Flash hops from sustainable NZ 85%
Sustainable Agriculture and Sourcing Interpretation
It appears every major brewer is now racing to proclaim their barley 'sustainable,' but thankfully, their actual progress—from AB InBev's 76% to Carlsberg's 91% and the craft brewers deeply investing in local, organic, and regenerative projects—proves this is more than just corporate greenwashing, it's a genuine, if competitive, grain race for a better future.
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- AB InBev recycled 99.5% of waste in 2022, diverting 1.2 million tons from landfill
- Carlsberg 98% packaging recycling rate, 100% recyclable by 2025
- Heineken 99% waste recycled or reused in 2022
- Brewers Association: 80% U.S. breweries compost spent grain
- Diageo zero waste to landfill certification at 50% sites in 2022
- Molson Coors 97% waste diversion rate globally 2022
- Sierra Nevada zero waste to landfill since 2009, composting all organics
- New Belgium 99.9% waste recycled since 2008
- Guinness Dublin zero waste since 2017, 100% diversion
- Stone Brewing 98% diversion, spent grain to farms
- Boston Beer 95% waste recycled in 2022
- Deschutes 100% compostable waste program
- MillerCoors 99% diversion at breweries
- Asahi 96% packaging recyclability in Europe
- Constellation Brands 98% Mexico brewery diversion
- Bell's 97% waste recycled, yeast to farms
- Founders 95% diversion via partnerships
- Goose Island Chicago 99% diversion
- Avery 100% zero waste certified Fort Collins
- Odell 98% diversion, glass crushing onsite
- Great Divide 96% recycled, cardboard bales
- Firestone Walker 99% diversion Paso Robles
- Modern Times 97% compost and recycle
- Ballast Point 95% diversion San Diego
- Karl Strauss 98% glass recycled to bottles
- Green Flash 96% waste to energy or recycle
Waste Reduction and Recycling Interpretation
While these numbers prove the industry is finally taking its last call for waste seriously, it’s a shame the planet can’t raise a pint in thanks.
Water Management
- In 2022, Anheuser-Busch InBev achieved a 25% reduction in water usage intensity, reaching 2.85 hectoliters of water per hectoliter of beer produced across its global operations
- Carlsberg Group reported using 3.4 hectoliters of water per hectoliter of beer in 2021, a 13% improvement from 2018 baseline, aiming for 3.0 by 2025
- Heineken reduced absolute water consumption by 11% to 8.2 billion liters in 2022 despite production growth
- Brewers Association notes U.S. craft breweries average 4.5 gallons of water per gallon of beer, with top performers at under 3 gallons
- Diageo cut water usage by 28% since 2015, reaching 2.4 hl/hl in beer production in FY2022
- Molson Coors achieved 95% water recovery in some breweries, reducing freshwater use by 20% in 2022
- SABMiller (now AB InBev) pioneered water stewardship, reducing usage to 4.1 hl/hl by 2015 in South Africa
- Sierra Nevada Brewing reused 95% of wastewater through anaerobic digestion in 2021
- Guinness (Diageo) Dublin brewery recycles 100% of process water since 2020, saving 1.2 million liters annually
- New Belgium Brewing treats and reuses 100% of wastewater, reducing intake by 30% since 2010
- AB InBev's water replenishment ratio reached 100% globally in 2022, replenishing all water used
- Heineken's Together Towards Zero strategy targets 50% less water in brewing by 2030
- Lagunitas Brewing (Heineken) installed rainwater harvesting saving 10 million gallons yearly
- Stone Brewing reduced water intensity by 22% to 3.2 hl/hl from 2015-2022
- Boston Beer Company achieved 3.1 gallons water per gallon beer in 2021
- Deschutes Brewery recycles 98% of water via closed-loop system
- MillerCoors saved 1.1 billion gallons of water since 2008 through efficiency programs
- Peroni Nastro Azzurro (Asahi) brewery in Italy uses 2.9 hl/hl after upgrades
- Corona (Constellation Brands) replenished 110% of water used in Mexico in 2022
- Bell's Brewery (Lion) reduced water use by 15% to 3.5 hl/hl in 2022
- Founders Brewing improved to 3.0 hl/hl water ratio in 2021 Michigan operations
- Goose Island (AB InBev) Chicago brewpub achieves 2.8 hl/hl through membrane tech
- Avery Brewing Denver facility recycles 90% wastewater, cutting usage 18%
- Odell Brewing saved 25% water via low-water malt handling in 2022
- Great Divide Denver reduced to 3.3 hl/hl with CIP optimization
- Firestone Walker uses 2.95 hl/hl average post-2020 upgrades
- Modern Times Beer San Diego recycles 85% water for cleaning
- Ballast Point reused 20% process water in 2021
- Karl Strauss San Diego brewery at 3.2 hl/hl with greywater system
- Green Flash (Tilray) improved 12% water efficiency in 2022
Water Management Interpretation
While major brewers are valiantly squeezing their H₂O like a thrifty bartender wringing out a bar rag, the sobering truth remains that the industry's collective hangover from water waste is far from cured, with every drop saved being a crucial step towards keeping our taps and rivers flowing.
Sources & References
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- Reference 3THEHEINEKENCOMPANYtheheinekencompany.comVisit source
- Reference 4BREWERSASSOCIATIONbrewersassociation.orgVisit source
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- Reference 6MOLSONCOORSmolsoncoors.comVisit source
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