Highlights:

• Energy consumption fell by 9.3%
• Water consumption reduced by 5.6%
• CO2 emissions decreased by 8.3%
• Introduction of new null-LOX barley helps speed up production and save energy
• 3.3hl water required to produce 1hl beer (2010: 3.5hl water required)

2011 was a defining year for the Carlsberg Group in terms of driving, accelerating and embedding its eight CSR areas* across its operations around the world. This was recognised by the fact that Carlsberg was included in the top five of the 2011 Newsweek Green ranking for its respective category, scoring highest among global brewers in terms of environmental management and footprint.  

Commenting on this performance, Janda Campos, VP Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Affairs, Carlsberg Group, says:

"We are pleased with the progress we are making in terms of integrating CSR throughout the value chain. We understand that our long term success depends not only on growing, but growing responsibly.

"2011 saw us reach some significant milestones across many of our local markets. One that stands out is in Russia, where our largest operation, Baltika Breweries, achieved an 18% reduction in specific energy in the St. Petersburg brewery as a result of us introducing a programme targeting reduction of losses in steam supply lines and heat recovery."

Other important developments for the Carlsberg Group in 2011 included the investment in a waste water recovery plant for its Hyderabad Brewery in India where the expected annual savings on water from the plant is expected to be 585,000hl. Improved performance was also achieved in Carlsberg's Brewery in Huizhou (Guangdong province), China where we reduced CO2 emissions by around 35% by the introduction of steam from boilers that are powered by biomass.

Although investing in new assets to assist with improving its environmental management and training its workforce appropriately are necessary prerequisites for success, Campos is quick to point out that environmental responsibility does not stop when you go beyond the front gates of Carlsberg's breweries:

"While Carlsberg can take certain steps to reduce its carbon footprint, it is clear that a large proportion of our products’ carbon footprint is related to the production of products bought from suppliers such as packaging. In early 2011, in order to get better visibility on how to reduce the overall carbon footprint, our UK business introduced the Carlsberg Environmental Community and invited some of its biggest suppliers to join the Community, and work in partnership on ways to reduce carbon in the supply chain. The results are already impressive with Carlsberg UK achieving a 22% reduction in carbon emissions in 2011, compared to the previous year. The Carlsberg Environmental Community is a pilot programme for the Carlsberg Group."

Carlsberg's Swiss business, market leader Feldschlösschen, now offers its customers the option of a CO2-neutral delivery. If a customer decides to go for the new service, the customer and Feldschlösschen's logistics department co-operate to identify the CO2 emissions linked to the delivery process. The emissions calculated this way will subsequently be offset with CO2 credits. The income from these credits is then invested in climate protection projects.

Carlsberg is committed to producing the best beer possible and is involved in the entire process from barley to beer, from both a quality and environmental perspective. Birgitte Skadhauge, Carlsberg's Research Director for Raw Materials and Yeast, adds:

"Our extensive research and development facilities allow us to improve the raw materials that are at the heart of the brewing process and work closely with our farming partners to ensure that we produce crops that are high yielding, require less water and are disease resistant. These improved raw materials, such as the new null-LOX malting barley we launched in 2011, combined with newly-developed yeasts, speed up the brewing process, save us energy and improve the quality and life of our products."

As regards environmental management, Carlsberg focuses on three key areas - water, energy and emissions, and packaging – where it believes it can make a real difference. The focus on packaging is a reasonably recent development and while the company has previously targeted waste management, particularly around all the sporting and musical events it sponsors, Carlsberg is now committed to reducing the amount of packaging it uses in the production and distribution of its products, while promoting the reuse and recycling of packaging material.

Campos concludes:

"There are actions behind our words. To give you an example, a thorough water risk assessment was carried out at all our production sites during 2011 and while the overall results are very reassuring, action plans have been drawn up where necessary.

2011 was a turning point for us and we are well on track to achieve our 2013 targets."

Images can be downloaded from our website at: http://www.carlsberggroup.com/investor/news/Pages/MostEfficientGlobalBrewer.aspx

Note to Editors:

Carlsberg Group's Approach to CSR

A central element of the Carlsberg Group's CSR strategy is the integration of corporate responsibility throughout the value chain. Embedding CSR in existing business processes, developing policies to ensure standards and setting global and local targets to improve CSR performance form the cornerstone of this strategic process.

The Carlsberg Group publishes annual CSR progress data online on www.carlsberggroup.com/csr.

*Our eight CSR areas are: Environment, Health & Safety, Labour & Human Rights, Business Ethics, Marketing Communication, Community Engagement, Responsible Drinking and Responsible Sourcing.

As a member of the UN Global Compact, the Carlsberg Group is committed to supporting and advancing the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact within our sphere of influence. Our newest Communication on Progress is available at the UN Global Compacts website: http://www.unglobalcompact.org/COPs/detail/15379.

About Carlsberg Group

The Carlsberg Group is one of the leading brewery groups in the world, with a large portfolio of beer and other beverage brands. Our flagship brand – Carlsberg – is one of the best-known beer brands in the world and the Baltika, Carlsberg, and Tuborg brands are among the eight biggest brands in Europe. More than 41,000 people work for the Carlsberg Group, and our products are sold in more than 150 markets. In 2011, the Carlsberg Group sold more than 115 million hectolitres of beer, which is about 34 billion bottles of beer.

NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., The

NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., The

NASDAQ

More from NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., The