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7th November 2022

Brewers on the road to net zero as COP27 begins

— Zero Carbon Forum and BBPA launch route to net zero for Brewers with specialist insight from Carbon Architecture — 

The Zero Carbon Forum and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) have today launched an expanded, targeted roadmap for UK brewers to help the sector decarbonise at pace to reach net zero. 

The bespoke roadmap, launched at the beginning of COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, is designed specifically for the brewing sector and provides guidance to support brewers on a pathway to net zero emissions. 

Industry specialists Carbon Architecture, as lead consultant, have provided a deep dive into brewing emissions within the roadmap and quantified the sector’s environmental impact. The actions needed are detailed, from optimising hot liquor systems to the decarbonisation of ingredients and transportation fleets, as well as highlighting the support needed from Government to help the sector on its net zero journey. 

An evolution of the version first published in 2021, this refreshed roadmap reflects the positive action taken by the sector since COP26 and the unique challenges and opportunities to decarbonise held by the brewing sector directly and across supply chains. 

In accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Account and Reporting Standard, the roadmap has been broken down into three ‘scopes’ for reporting purposes, with an additional focus on scope three emissions which are indirect emissions from supply chains.  

The Zero Carbon Roadmap for Brewing can be found here.

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said:   

“We are in a critical moment when it comes to protecting our planet and we recognise how important it is for brewers to play their part and brew world class beer in a sustainable way. As an industry we are ambitious in our ability to affect change, demonstrated by brewing businesses across the country already taking huge steps to be more environmentally friendly. From improving energy efficiency and reducing CO2, to lowering water consumption, but this roadmap will further support brewers in reducing their environmental footprint. 

“This is not a mission we can embark on alone, collaboration is key, which is why we are delighted to launch this bespoke guidance alongside the Zero Carbon Forum and Carbon Architecture, to provide British brewers with a clear pathway to a net zero, green future.” 

Mark Chapman, Chief Executive of Zero Carbon Forum, said: 

Through the Zero Carbon Forum, the brewing sector is collaborating to identify and implement all the actions it can take to cut carbon to net zero. Many of the initiatives detailed in this enhanced roadmap will also improve efficiency, grow sales and de-risk supply chains, helping Brewer’s survive the immediate crises as well as tackle the climate crises. Working alongside the BBPA we look forward to engaging Government to support the implementation of reduction initiatives at pace to reach net zero.” 

Will Todd, Chief Executive of Carbon Architecture, said: 

 “The brewing industry has been taking really positive steps to decarbonise since the UK Government first committed to its net zero 2050 targets, and during that time our friends at the BBPA have been spearheading the thought leadership which has been key to driving the agenda forward.   
 
This revised roadmap is the result of a strong collaboration between the sector’s largest and most influential trade association in the BBPA, the Zero Carbon Forum, which has ensured that the key stakeholders -the brewers themselves- are firmly invested in the recommendations put forward by the roadmap, and our consulting team at Carbon Architecture.   
 
We have been helping brewers optimise their processes to reduce energy, carbon and product loss for the last decade, and I’m proud to say that we have come together to share our knowledge, and to help set this ambitious net zero pathway.” 

ENDS 

 

For more information contact Finlay Morriss at fmorriss@beerandpub.com / 020 7627 9199. 

Notes to editors:

About the British Beer & Pub Association    
The BBPA represents UK companies which between them brew over 90% of the beer sold in the UK and own 20,000 pubs.  

Our members include international companies, national and local brewers and pub businesses operating managed and tenanted pubs in cities, towns and villages across the country.   

These businesses are at the heart of communities and local economies and include family businesses who have been brewing beer and running pubs for hundreds of years alongside emerging brewers and pub operators.   

·        The UK’s beer and pub industry supports close to 940,000 jobs  

·        The industry adds £26.2billion to the UK’s economy each year 

@beerandpub 
beerandpub.com 

About the Zero Carbon Forum   

The Zero Carbon Forum is a non-profit organisation which builds on 10 years of carbon reduction collaboration in the UK’s hospitality and Brewing sector. It enables members to reach their decarbonisation targets faster, more efficiently and more cost effectively than acting alone. 

The Zero Carbon Forum published its publicly available roadmap to achieve net zero carbon ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) in November 2021. 

Members pledge to work collaboratively, by sharing carbon reduction plans and initiatives. By combining expertise and resources the forum helps to identify all possible actions to decarbonise operations across tens of thousands of outlets and their supply chains.  

The Zero Carbon Forum is endorsed by government and backed by trade associations UK Hospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association. Members include leading UK and global hospitality organisations, including Adnams, Azzurri Group, Boparan Restaurants, Brewdog, Burger King UK, Côte Restaurant Group, Fuller’s, Greene King, Honest Burgers, InterContinental Hotels (IHG) Hotels & Resorts, JD Wetherspoon, KFC, Marston’s PLC, McMullen’s Brewery, Mitchells & Butlers PLC (MAB), Nando’s UK and IRE, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut Restaurants UK, Revolution Bars, Shepherd-Neame Ltd, St. Austell, Stonegate, The Restaurant Group (including Wagamama), Wadworth Brewery, WSH, and Young & Co. Brewery, PLC. 

https://zerocarbonforum.com/


Press release from BBPA.

For more information contact Finlay Morriss at fmorriss@beerandpub.com / 020 7627 9199.