Budweiser China is intensifying its commitment to environmentally friendly practices in alignment with the nation’s push for sustainability, according to its executive.
The Chinese arm of Budweiser APAC, a subsidiary of AB InBev headquartered in Belgium, recently announced the attainment of its target to reduce carbon emissions by 25% throughout its entire value chain by the end of last year, surpassing expectations by two years.
Jan Clysner, Vice President of Sustainability and Procurement at Budweiser APAC, emphasized the company’s ongoing dedication to higher standards, stating, “Despite achieving our goal ahead of schedule, our ambition extends further. We aim to achieve net-zero emissions across our entire value chain, not solely within our breweries, by 2040.”
Presently, Budweiser China has successfully transitioned to brewing with pure renewable electricity in 10 breweries. Moreover, 14 facilities have integrated solar panels for electricity generation, collectively generating 36 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2023.
One notable initiative includes the installation of the industry’s inaugural hydropower electric boiler coupled with a thermal storage system at the Ziyang brewery in Sichuan province last year. This innovative project is forecasted to curtail carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 7,000 metric tons.
Clysner highlighted the efficiency of Budweiser China’s energy usage, noting, “When comparing the total purchased energy of our China breweries to that of other breweries within the AB InBev network, it is likely the lowest.” He suggested that the digitalized, high-tech brewery model adopted in China may serve as a blueprint for reducing energy consumption in other markets.
Commenting on China’s rapid progress in sustainability, Clysner remarked, “China is advancing swiftly, particularly with its dual carbon goals, which have catalyzed significant changes and propelled progress at an accelerated pace.”
As AB InBev commemorates its 40th year in China, Clysner reflected, “Over the past four decades, our presence in China has witnessed remarkable growth as a company, and we are committed to sustaining this momentum. We perceive substantial opportunities for growth, particularly in the premiumization segment, and are poised to capitalize on them.”
