Labatt, AB InBev achieve three-year environmental targets

Labatt's water consumption down 17%, CO2 emissions reduced by 26%

TORONTO, March 7, 2013 /CNW/ - Labatt Breweries of Canada and its sister Anheuser-Busch InBev companies around the world announced Tuesday that they have successfully reached their environmental goals set in 2009. The goals are part of the company's commitment to reduce its impact on the environment and be "The Best Beer Company in a Better World." The targets were achieved through a multi-faceted approach that applied a mix of operational changes, technological solutions, partnerships and a sustainability-focused mindset underscored by the strong teamwork among 118,000 employees around the world. The goals involve 130 breweries and soft drinks facilities across more than 20 countries.

In Canada, close to 350 employee water conservation ideas generated by Labatt employees between 2009 and 2012 reduced consumption by 17%. Total CO2 emissions were down 26%, and recycling was at a world-class level of 98%.

"These significant improvements are a direct result of building a culture of sustainability at Labatt. Our employees have contributed to this achievement through work in operations, the supply chain and with community partners," said Charlie Angelakos, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Labatt. "Integrating sustainability into every aspect of the business by keeping employees and stakeholders engaged through global rally days, including the UN's World Environment Day and World Water Day, as well as partnering with community groups and municipal governments have helped small steps add up to big results."

An additional 1,700 ideas were implemented to help Labatt facilities maintain total energy usage per hectoliter to the 2009 baseline level, despite an increase in energy consumption per hectoliter of beer produced for the one-year period from 2011 to 2012. This was largely because of the minimum energy load required for building operations, particularly at two large breweries. With production growth over the next few years, the "per hectoliter" measure is expected to decline again to appropriate levels. A number of Labatt breweries use "green power" electricity produced by hydro-electric dams, a renewable resource.

AB InBev achieved the following against a 2009 baseline:

• Reached its three-year goal of using a leading-edge 3.5 hectoliters of water per hectoliter of production within a three-year period. This represents an 18.6% reduction in water usage across AB InBev's global operations against a 2009 baseline. This is equivalent to the amount of water needed to produce approximately 25 billion cans of AB InBev products, which is about 20% of one year's production.¹

• Decreased energy use per hectoliter in breweries and soft drink facilities worldwide by 12%. This result surpasses AB InBev's sustainability target of a 10% reduction.
  
  
• Reduced carbon emissions by 15.7%, surpassing its original three-year target of reducing emissions by 10%.
  
  
• Increased recycling rate to 99.2% for solid waste and byproducts, passing its original three-year target of achieving a 99% recycling rate.

"By working to make our operations both more efficient and more sustainable, we have returned value to our business and to the communities in which we live and work, while uncovering new ways to achieve our Better World dream," said Carlos Brito, CEO of Anheuser-Busch InBev. "While each of our breweries and soft drink facilities faced unique circumstances, the combination of operational focus, technological solutions and most importantly, our more than 118,000 dedicated colleagues around the world, has made this shared achievement possible."

In addition to the positive environmental impacts, efforts to reach the goals helped to identify new revenue streams, generate savings and spur the involvement of more employees and partners in the company's sustainability initiatives. Recycling initiatives have generated approximately US $420 million globally from finding beneficial uses for recyclable materials generated from the company's processes. Efforts to use water and energy more efficiently also generated an estimated global cost savings of US $92 million.

Labatt and AB InBev will announce a new set of global environmental goals later this year, following a review of the initial three-year cycle and consultations with stakeholders.

About Labatt Breweries of Canada
Since its founding in 1847, Labatt has become an internationally renowned brewer. Today, Labatt is a proud member of Anheuser-Busch InBev, producing over 60 quality beers, employing 3,000 Canadians, and operating six breweries from coast to coast.

About Anheuser-Busch InBev
Anheuser-Busch InBev is a publicly traded company (Euronext: ABI) based in Leuven, Belgium, with American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUD).  It is the leading global brewer, one of the world's top five consumer products companies and recognized as first in the beverage industry on FORTUNE Magazine's "World's Most Admired" companies list.  Beer, the original social network, has been bringing people together for thousands of years and our portfolio of well over 200 beer brands continues to forge strong connections with consumers.  We invest the majority of our brand-building resources on our Focus Brands - those with the greatest growth potential such as global brands Budweiser®, Stella Artois® and Beck's®, alongside Leffe®, Hoegaarden®, Bud Light®, Skol®, Brahma®, Antarctica®, Quilmes®, Michelob Ultra®, Harbin®, Sedrin®, Klinskoye®, Sibirskaya Korona®, Chernigivske®, Hasseröder® and Jupiler®.  In addition, the company owns a 50 percent equity interest in the operating subsidiary of Grupo Modelo, Mexico's leading brewer and owner of the global Corona® brand.  Anheuser-Busch InBev's dedication to heritage and quality originates from the Den Hoorn brewery in Leuven, Belgium dating back to 1366 and the pioneering spirit of the Anheuser & Co brewery, with origins in St. Louis, USA since 1852.  Geographically diversified with a balanced exposure to developed and developing markets, Anheuser‑Busch InBev leverages the collective strengths of its approximately 118 000 employees based in 23 countries worldwide.  In 2012, AB InBev realized 39.8 billion US dollar revenue. The company strives to be the Best Beer Company in a Better World.  For more information, please visit: www.ab-inbev.com.

About Better World
Our commitment is to be the Best Beer Company in a Better World. Labatt's and its sister company Anheuser-Busch InBev's Better World efforts focus on three pillars: promoting responsible drinking; protecting the environment; and giving back to the communities in which we live and work. In Canada and around the world, we develop and implement social responsibility programs and campaigns in partnership with parents, government officials, community organizations, retailers and others.

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¹ The cans of beer equivalency was calculated by totaling the three-year water savings, which equaled 312,330,230 hectoliters, or 87.9 billion 355-mL cans. That number was then divided by the company's current usage rate of 3.5 hectoliters of water per hectoliter of production, which equaled 25 billion cans of product saved.

SOURCE: Labatt Breweries of Canada

Briar Wells
Labatt Breweries of Canada
416-361-5247
[email protected]