A-B InBev outlines water cuts

Drop in the ocean: Brewer aims for 30% water cut

Brewer wants 20 new waste water plants by 2012

A-B InBev has pledged to lower its water intensity to 3.5 litres per litre of beer brewed by the end of 2012, claiming its new target is the most ambitious in the industry.

The new level would represent a 30% reduction on the firm’s water use in 2007, which stood at just over five litres per litre of beer brewed. Last year’s figure was 4.3 litres per litre of beer.

“We’re acutely aware that water is a finite and precious resource and the principle ingredient in our products. Efficient water use is essential to the continued, sustainable growth of our business around the world,” said CEO Carlos Brito.

A-B InBev also said today that by the end of 2012 it will have cut pro-rata CO2 emissions by 10% and will be recycling 99% of its waste, up from 98% last year. The firm said since 2007 it has cut its pro-rata energy-use by 10.9%.

These targets will be hit by rolling out technologies and practices already in use at the firm’s flagship facilities in the US, Germany, Brazil, and China. The brewer said it aims to put in place “uniform processes and measurable standards”.

Technology in place in 25 of the giant’s breweries around the world allowing methane to be captured from waste water and used to produce steam will gain wider use across the firm’s operations.

The firm’s plant in Cartersville, Georgia, now operating at 3.1 litres per litre of beer, and the Wernigerode Brewery in Germany, running at 3.09 litres per litre of beer, will be two of the facilities’ sharing best practice amongst the group.

This year the company said it will open new waste water treatment plants in its facilities at Kiln, Omsk and Agarsk, Russia, that will use anaerobic and aerobic processes to treat all of the plants’ waste water.

A-B InBev said it will construct or upgrade 20 waste water treatment plants around the globe before the end of 2012, adding to the 14 the firm built or renovated last year.

Today’s announcement raises the bar in the global brewing industry. SABMiller, A-B InBev’s closest multinational competitor, aims to be using 3.5 litres of water per litre of beer produced by 2015, representing a 25% cut from 2008’s figure.

On Friday, the WWF warned that investors are increasingly judging the companies they invest in on their water efficiency and the policies they are putting in place to avert future shortages.

Image: Francesco Marino / FreeDigitalPhotos.net