UK: SIBA publishes sustainability strategy

A new sustainability strategy has been published by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) to help independent breweries meet the ambitious government net zero targets, Beer Today reported on March 19.

Launched at brewing industry trade event BeerX, Brewing Our Way to Net Zero includes a consultation with breweries, suppliers, and others across the UK before being implemented.

This comes as the latest 2023 YouGov Craft Report consumer poll shows almost half of consumers (48%) believe that sustainability credentials of a brewer is an important factor when choosing a beer. For female consumers this increases to 52%, with 55% of younger consumers saying it is important.

In his introduction to the report, Andy Slee, SIBA’s chief executive, highlights the fact that brewers already take many positive measures to lessen their environmental impact. But more still needs to be done.

“In many respects, small independent breweries lead the way in sustainability,” he says. “Their core product is locally produced beer, 66% of which is packaged into reusable containers and sold to community pubs, predominantly within a 40-mile radius of the brewery.

“There are also many breweries who have placed environmentalism front and centre of what they do, with astonishing results. Water usage down to 1.5 pints, energy sourced solely from renewable technology, and early adopters of CO2 capture equipment, to name but a few of the cutting edge initiatives adopted by independent breweries.

“Yet as small and medium sized businesses, many independent breweries lack the economic, human, and technical resources they need to make the jump to net zero — increasingly the number one priority in sustainability. As significant users of materials and as energy-intensive businesses, they face an uphill challenge to meet the government’s ambitious and legally enforced environmental goals over the next few decades.”

The practical sustainability strategy sets out how independent breweries can achieve their net zero obligations with help and support from SIBA, as well as examples from breweries that lead the way.

Andy adds: “Sustainability is at the heart of what we do, and has to be delivered in an economic, rational way to enable small independent breweries to make the changes to their businesses they need to succeed in the decades to come.”

SIBA has identified six key areas on which it will focus to help small breweries achieve the net zero targets. These are:

• Energy use;
• Ingredients;
• Transport and logistics;
• Packaging and recycling;
• Solid waste management; and
• Water.

Within each of the key areas, SIBA has set out short-, medium-, and long-term goals to achieve net zero for the independent brewing sector by 2045 — five years ahead of the Government’s legally binding targets, which dictate net zero emissions by 2050. There are also targets to reduce national emissions by 78% by 2035 and 68% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

The report consultation is open until 19th May. It will gather feedback on the scope and objectives of the report, giving the opportunity to feed back on the suggested course of action and offer alternatives to meet the demands of the net zero targets.

20 March, 2023