Welcome to Brewing Green

Introduction from Emma McClarkin, CEO BBPA

Britain’s brewing and pub industries are amongst the oldest and most revered around the world. To maintain this reputation, it is now more important than ever for us to brew world class beer and operate in an innovative and sustainable way in order to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

From its effort to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, to lowering water consumption, cutting down on waste and supporting local businesses and agriculture, Britain’s breweries and pubs, working alongside their supply chains, are determined to play their part in making Britain a world leader for environmental sustainability.

I am immensely proud of our many achievements to date, including exceeding planned energy and emissions reduction targets for 2020. However, as a sector we know that more needs to be done, and future objectives must be more ambitious than ever before.

2021 signals a pivotal year in our efforts to respond to the climate emergency. As we emerge from a pandemic that has presented an existential threat to our sector, in COP26 we have also seen the UK play host to countries around the world to share a global ambition to sustainability.   

I am proud to present this latest report outlining the many diverse, ambitious and exciting initiatives that our brewers and pub operators have implemented since we last reported on the sectors commitment to environment and sustainability in 2019. Notable also is the progressive work both our brewing and pub sectors have devoted to developing sectoral roadmaps on decarbonisation, in advance of the UK Government’s own 2050 target for a carbon zero future and as part of the wider, green recovery.

We have a long road ahead to achieve our ambitions and we cannot do this work alone. As well as individual initiatives, it will be vital to work collaboratively with partners, stakeholders and customers within our supply chain, from grain to glass, some of which are also included in this latest report.

Helping our sector to meet its sustainability ambitions will also require the support of Government. Not only as we emerge from a global pandemic but also in recognising the challenges and opportunities on the pathway to a greener future. By helping to create the right environment to enable businesses to meet their targets and achieve their ambitions and to work collaboratively with the sector as we move forward, together towards a net-zero future.