By 2025, Lion will use 100 per cent renewable energy to brew all its beers. The statement comes after the company announced last month it would become the country’s first major carbon neutral brewer in 2020.
Lion CEO Stuart Irvine said Lion was “pulling every carbon abatement lever available”.
“Not only have we committed to sourcing all our electricity from renewable sources to lower our emissions, but we are offsetting our remaining organisational footprint to put us in a carbon neutral position.
“We have been on this journey for quite some time, but speed is of the essence in addressing climate change. While we work towards our 2025 renewable electricity target, in the meantime our remaining emissions will be offset through a portfolio of verified projects focusing on bush regeneration and conservation projects that both cut carbon emissions and protect vital habitat and food sources for native wildlife,” Irvine said.
Last month Lion announced it would compound its carbon reduction programme with certified carbon credits to offset its remaining organisational carbon footprint. Its carbon neutral status would be certified with Climate Active, which it describes as the most rigorous and credible carbon-neutral certification available (Food & Drink Business 15/11/2019).
Irvine said extending its reliance on renewable electricity was a akey component of maintaining its Climate Active certified carbon neutral operations.
The Climate Active brand is a leading government-certified carbon neutral initiative for businesses. Its trademark indicates an organisation, product or service, event, precinct of building has met all requirements in achieving zero carbon emissions, and is designed to make purchases for consumers easier by choosing goods and services from certified organisations (Food & Drink Business, 21/11/2019).
Irvine said Lion is on track to meet its target of 30 per cent carbon reduction by 2025 over its 2015 baseline thanks to its “whole brewery” carbon reduction approach, which incorporates energy efficiency, biogas usage, rooftop solar, renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs), and providing brewers grain to reduce livestock emissions.
“Going into the summer months, we want consumers to crack open a cold Furphy, XXXX GOLD, Tooheys New, Little Creatures, Kosciuszko, or any of the fantastic beverages in our portfolio and know that they represent Lion’s long-term pledge to do the right thing by the environment,” Irvine said.
Lion was #4 on the Food & Drink Business Australia's Top 100 Food & Drink Companies 2019 report.
