Beer makers are cutting emissions and reshaping packaging fast enough that the numbers start to feel competitive rather than incremental. AB InBev cut Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 38% per hectoliter of beer since its 2017 baseline, while Carlsberg targets net zero by 2040 and is already pushing toward a 50% absolute cut by 2030. From net zero roadmaps to solar breweries and water systems running like closed loops, the sustainability progress is uneven in ways that make you want to see exactly where the biggest gains are coming from.
Key Takeaways
- 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 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
- 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 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
- 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 are cutting emissions, water use, waste, and plastic through renewable energy, circular packaging, and efficiency.
Related reading
01 · Category
Energy Efficiency and GHG Emissions27 stats
01
AB InBev's Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions reduced by 38% per hl of beer since 2017 baseline in 2022
02
Carlsberg aims for net-zero by 2040, cutting 50% absolute GHG by 2030 from 2018
03
Heineken reduced CO2 emissions by 17% intensity per hl in 2022
04
Brewers Association: U.S. breweries reduced energy use 20% since 2008
05
Diageo beer ops GHG down 22% since 2015, 45% renewable energy in 2022
06
Molson Coors 100% renewable electricity goal by 2025, 55% achieved 2022
07
Sierra Nevada 99% renewable energy at Mills River brewery since 2019
08
New Belgium 100% renewable electricity since 2013
09
Guinness St. James's Gate 50% renewable energy from biomass in 2022
10
Lagunitas solar array generates 1.2 MW, covering 40% energy needs
11
Stone Brewing Paso Robles 100% solar powered since 2017
12
Boston Beer Company 25% renewable energy increase to 35% in 2022
13
Deschutes Bend brewery LED lighting cut energy 30% since 2018
14
MillerCoors Golden brewery 100% renewable since 2017
15
Asahi UK breweries 100% renewable electricity since 2020
16
Constellation Brands Mexico ops 40% solar energy in 2022
17
Bell's Brewery wind power PPA covers 20% energy
18
Founders Brewing efficiency upgrades saved 15% energy in 2022
19
Goose Island 30% energy reduction via VFDs and LEDs 2021
20
Avery Brewing anaerobic digester powers 50% hot water
21
Odell Brewing 100% LED, 25% energy cut since 2015
22
Great Divide solar panels 15% energy offset
23
Firestone Walker 40% renewable via solar and biogas
24
Modern Times 100% CA renewable electricity credits
25
Ballast Point efficiency program 18% kWh/hl reduction
26
Karl Strauss microgrid backup reduces grid reliance 10%
27
Green Flash biogas from wastewater 12% energy source
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Packaging and Innovation26 stats
01
AB InBev 100% recyclable aluminum cans globally since 2020
02
Carlsberg Snap Pack uses 70% less plastic than rings, rolled out 2022
03
Heineken StarBlock glue replaces plastic rings, saving 1 million tons plastic by 2025
04
Brewers Association: 75% U.S. beer in recyclable aluminum
05
Diageo Johnnie Walker paper bottles pilot for beer trials
06
Molson Coors 100% rPET bottles in Europe by 2025, 50% 2022
07
Sierra Nevada Sustainably Sourced caps 100% steel recyclable
08
New Belgium 100% recycled content cardboard 6-packs
09
Guinness 0.0 no plastic multipack glue
10
Stone Delicious Cities paperboard carriers plastic-free
11
Boston Beer Angry Orchard paper multipacks 2022
12
Deschutes Fresh Squeezed aluminum only recyclable
13
MillerCoors Blue Moon paperboard 100% recyclable
14
Asahi Peroni plastic-free multipack UK 2021
15
Constellation Corona paperboard multipacks North America
16
Bell's paper carriers replacing plastic
17
Founders All Day IPA slim cans 100% recycled aluminum
18
Goose Island 312 cans r100% recycled content goal 2025
19
Avery Ellie paper labels sustainable
20
Odell 90/10 aluminum recycled content cans
21
Great Divide Yeti imperial stout glass 100% cullet recycled
22
Firestone Walker Mind Haze crowler fills reduce packaging waste
23
Modern Times plastic-free cans only
24
Ballast Point Sculpin paperboard 6-packs
25
Karl Strauss returnable bottles pilot 20% reuse
26
Green Flash compostable labels on cans
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Sustainable Agriculture and Sourcing26 stats
01
AB InBev sources 100% sustainable barley verified by 2030, 76% in 2022
02
Carlsberg 100% sustainable barley by 2025, 91% in 2021
03
Heineken 80% responsibly sourced hops in 2022
04
Brewers Association: 50% U.S. craft brewers use organic ingredients
05
Diageo barley from regenerative farms covering 20% supply in 2022
06
Molson Coors 100% sustainable corn sourcing verified
07
Sierra Nevada 100% proprietary hops sustainably farmed
08
New Belgium 100% non-GMO since inception, regenerative rice
09
Guinness supports 12,000 Irish barley farmers sustainable program
10
Stone Brewing 100% organic rice for IPA
11
Boston Beer 30% organic malt increase 2022
12
Deschutes partners with 50 hop farms sustainable certified
13
MillerCoors supports 10,000 U.S. corn farmers regen ag
14
Asahi hops 70% sustainable from New Zealand
15
Constellation Brands agave sustainable for beer variants 100%
16
Bell's Michigan barley local sustainable 40%
17
Founders hops from sustainable Yakima farms 80%
18
Goose Island 50% local grains Illinois sustainable
19
Avery Colorado malt regenerative pilot 25% supply
20
Odell 100% local wheat sustainable certified
21
Great Divide organic hops 30% beers
22
Firestone Walker proprietary hops sustainable 100%
23
Modern Times local San Diego grains 60%
24
Ballast Point kelp sustainable sourcing trial
25
Karl Strauss California regenerative barley 20%
26
Green Flash hops from sustainable NZ 85%
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Waste Reduction and Recycling26 stats
01
AB InBev recycled 99.5% of waste in 2022, diverting 1.2 million tons from landfill
02
Carlsberg 98% packaging recycling rate, 100% recyclable by 2025
03
Heineken 99% waste recycled or reused in 2022
04
Brewers Association: 80% U.S. breweries compost spent grain
05
Diageo zero waste to landfill certification at 50% sites in 2022
06
Molson Coors 97% waste diversion rate globally 2022
07
Sierra Nevada zero waste to landfill since 2009, composting all organics
08
New Belgium 99.9% waste recycled since 2008
09
Guinness Dublin zero waste since 2017, 100% diversion
10
Stone Brewing 98% diversion, spent grain to farms
11
Boston Beer 95% waste recycled in 2022
12
Deschutes 100% compostable waste program
13
MillerCoors 99% diversion at breweries
14
Asahi 96% packaging recyclability in Europe
15
Constellation Brands 98% Mexico brewery diversion
16
Bell's 97% waste recycled, yeast to farms
17
Founders 95% diversion via partnerships
18
Goose Island Chicago 99% diversion
19
Avery 100% zero waste certified Fort Collins
20
Odell 98% diversion, glass crushing onsite
21
Great Divide 96% recycled, cardboard bales
22
Firestone Walker 99% diversion Paso Robles
23
Modern Times 97% compost and recycle
24
Ballast Point 95% diversion San Diego
25
Karl Strauss 98% glass recycled to bottles
26
Green Flash 96% waste to energy or recycle
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Water Management30 stats
01
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
02
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
03
Heineken reduced absolute water consumption by 11% to 8.2 billion liters in 2022 despite production growth
04
Brewers Association notes U.S. craft breweries average 4.5 gallons of water per gallon of beer, with top performers at under 3 gallons
05
Diageo cut water usage by 28% since 2015, reaching 2.4 hl/hl in beer production in FY2022
06
Molson Coors achieved 95% water recovery in some breweries, reducing freshwater use by 20% in 2022
07
SABMiller (now AB InBev) pioneered water stewardship, reducing usage to 4.1 hl/hl by 2015 in South Africa
08
Sierra Nevada Brewing reused 95% of wastewater through anaerobic digestion in 2021
09
Guinness (Diageo) Dublin brewery recycles 100% of process water since 2020, saving 1.2 million liters annually
10
New Belgium Brewing treats and reuses 100% of wastewater, reducing intake by 30% since 2010
11
AB InBev's water replenishment ratio reached 100% globally in 2022, replenishing all water used
12
Heineken's Together Towards Zero strategy targets 50% less water in brewing by 2030
13
Lagunitas Brewing (Heineken) installed rainwater harvesting saving 10 million gallons yearly
14
Stone Brewing reduced water intensity by 22% to 3.2 hl/hl from 2015-2022
15
Boston Beer Company achieved 3.1 gallons water per gallon beer in 2021
16
Deschutes Brewery recycles 98% of water via closed-loop system
17
MillerCoors saved 1.1 billion gallons of water since 2008 through efficiency programs
18
Peroni Nastro Azzurro (Asahi) brewery in Italy uses 2.9 hl/hl after upgrades
19
Corona (Constellation Brands) replenished 110% of water used in Mexico in 2022
20
Bell's Brewery (Lion) reduced water use by 15% to 3.5 hl/hl in 2022
21
Founders Brewing improved to 3.0 hl/hl water ratio in 2021 Michigan operations
22
Goose Island (AB InBev) Chicago brewpub achieves 2.8 hl/hl through membrane tech
23
Avery Brewing Denver facility recycles 90% wastewater, cutting usage 18%
24
Odell Brewing saved 25% water via low-water malt handling in 2022
25
Great Divide Denver reduced to 3.3 hl/hl with CIP optimization
26
Firestone Walker uses 2.95 hl/hl average post-2020 upgrades
27
Modern Times Beer San Diego recycles 85% water for cleaning
28
Ballast Point reused 20% process water in 2021
29
Karl Strauss San Diego brewery at 3.2 hl/hl with greywater system
30
Green Flash (Tilray) improved 12% water efficiency in 2022
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marcus Engström. (2026, February 13). Sustainability In The Beer Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-beer-industry-statistics
MLA
Marcus Engström. "Sustainability In The Beer Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-beer-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Engström. 2026. "Sustainability In The Beer Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-beer-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
27 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level