Brewer SABMiller sets out sustainability targets

Brewer SABMiller is scaling up its sustainable development programs with a set of ambitious new targets to achieve by 2020. Sustainable development is a key element of the company's business strategy.

At the heart of the new program, branded Prosper, is supporting the role small businesses play around the world in generating economic growth and reducing poverty. SABMiller is using its supply chains from farmers to retailers to drive inclusive growth, sustainable resource use and alcohol responsibility.

The business has pledged to:

• directly support over half a million small businesses to help them grow, improve their livelihoods and drive local development;
• achieve a world-class water efficiency target of 3 litres per litre of beer and secure the water supplies it shares with local communities through watershed partnerships at every site that faces water risks;
• reduce carbon footprint of the entire value chain from grain to glass by 25% per litre of beer and 50% across all breweries;
• measurably improve food security and resource productivity by developing targets by crop and growing region;
• encourage moderate and responsible alcohol consumption by scaling up global and local programs to reach all SABMiller beer consumers.

“Beer is essentially a local product, and we have deep roots in the local communities where it is brewed and consumed,” said director of sustainable development Andy Wales. “Our business-focused approach to sustainability has already developed innovative models of watershed protection, created new beers using local crops such as sorghum and cassava, and driven significant cost savings from carbon and water efficiency. This is a natural next step to support our future growth path.”

The 2020 targets set out how SABMiller plans to address five ‘shared imperatives’ - significant challenges shared by society, business and government. The company seeks to address them both locally and internationally in partnership with suppliers, customers, consumers and communities.

The five shared imperatives are:

1. Accelerate growth and social development through the company’s value chains, with a focus on promoting entrepreneurship, particularly among women and disadvantaged groups.
2. Make beer a natural choice for moderate and responsible drinkers by promoting robust standards and guidelines, launching new communications campaigns and supporting programs to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.
3. Secure shared water resources for SABMiller’s businesses, local communities and ecosystems by building a detailed understanding of water risks and creating community partnerships to manage them.
4. Create value by reducing waste and carbon footprint throughout the value chain, driving down emissions from brewing, promoting sustainable packaging and prioritising low-energy fridges.
5. Support responsible, sustainable use of land by creating secure, sustainable supply chains and by helping farmers to increase profitability, productivity and social development.

“Today society faces major challenges and the stakes are getting higher: poverty, water scarcity, climate change, food security and alcohol-related harm all demand urgent attention to secure a prosperous future,” said CEO Alan Clark.

“These pressing issues are shared by communities, businesses and governments and we must solve them together. Only those companies that are prepared to be part of the solution will be successful in the long term, and that’s why this approach is integral to our business strategy.”

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