Social
Carlsberg partnered with driver safety app Brightmile in Asia to help drivers recognise risky driving behaviours. Around 2,000 drivers logged over 17m km of journeys through the app, reducing speeding events by 48% in Vietnam compared with 2023, and cutting distraction-related events by 54% in Hong Kong and 48% in Malaysia. Carlsberg plans to expand the use of Brightmile to more regions as part of its commitment to road safety.
In Tanzania, Diageo’s Serengeti Breweries participated in a multi-stakeholder dialogue, hosted by the Confederation of Tanzania Industries, on measures to curb the unrecorded alcohol market. Participants discussed the role of unrecorded alcohol in exacerbating health risks and even death, as well as crime, domestic violence and other social problems. Serengeti Breweries is urging other alcohol producers to commit to efforts to curb the illicit alcohol trade in the country, and is committed to promoting sustainable solutions to social problems through public–private partnerships.
Meanwhile, Diageo’s global underage drinking prevention programme ‘Smashed’ is celebrating its 20 anniversary in the UK with its largest secondary-school tour to date. In 2023-24, the campaign reached over 80,000 teenage students with its interactive theatrical initiative and has educated around 580,000 students nationwide, and 5.5m globally.
In Canada, Molson Coors Beverage Co partnered with the Metrolinx public transport agency to offer free rides home to basketball fans in Toronto after the big game between the Toronto Raptors and the Chicago Bulls at the end of January. This was the first time Molson Coors brought its free post-game rides initiative to the city, empowering attendees to prioritise safety and make responsible choices.
Pernod Ricard worked in partnership to develop the United Nations Institute for Training & Research’s (UNITAR) global ‘Autosobriety Training Programme to Prevent Drink-Driving’ in Vietnam. The initiative uses online road-safety training for drivers and public awareness campaigns to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and UN Global Performance Target for Road Safety targets of reducing traffic deaths and injuries by half by 2030. The brand owner successfully piloted the programme with UNITAR in Vietnam in 2023 and expanded operations last year. A total of 5,225 drivers have already participated in the training course.
Over in South Korea, Pernod Ricard also launched a new ‘Safe Return’ responsible drinking campaign in entertainment zones around the country, to discourage drink-driving after the Lunar New Year holiday.
Environment
Heineken, Pernod Ricard and Suntory were among the companies to feature on the CDP’s A-List for their sustainability efforts in 2024. CDP runs the world’s only independent environmental disclosure system, and last year recognised several alcohol producers their work on water security and climate change. Suntory also recently achieved Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Platinum Certification for two of its water plants in Japan.
In South Korea, Anheuser-Busch InBev’s OB Beer division signed a recycling agreement with local authorities in Cheongju, where one of its breweries is located. OB will establish an organic cooperative recycling system with city officials, to improve the local environment and promote recycling projects. OB already has an annual waste battery collection drive, which will now be promoted every year in Cheongju.
Brown-Forman unveiled a new 100% recycled bottle for its Woodford Reserve 5cl release in the US as part of its commitment to sustainability and carbon footprint reduction. Designed for the global travel retail channel, the new bottles have been produced using advanced resin materials and will initially launch through Delta Airlines.
Carlsberg published its combined annual report for 2024, revealing impressive progress on ESG targets that include a 3% reduction in relative value chain emissions since 2022, and a 76% collection and recycling rate for its bottles and cans. Meanwhile in the EU, the group published a new report, ‘Sowing Change‘, urging EU leaders to take swift action to accelerate the shift to regenerative agriculture. The report outlines six recommendations to transform European agriculture, providing a roadmap to overcome barriers and accelerate progress.
The Coca Cola Co partnered with the United Nations Development Programme to scale up waste management efforts in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, the Maldives, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The three-year programme will help promote recycling, support local solutions and encourage collaboration across the nine countries.
Heineken released its annual report for 2024, highlighting its global sustainability achievements on carbon reduction, circular packaging and water conservation alongside responsible drinking initiatives. Last year, for example, the company launched a new circular packaging initiative, with 39% of products being sold in reusable packaging by the end of the year, and reported reducing its Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 34% since 2022.
Kirin announced plans to switch its Hokkaido Chitose brewery in Japan from fossil fuels to green hydrogen in 2026. The demonstration project will use steam derived from green hydrogen sourced from solar power, throughout the steam-intensive brewing process. The pilot is part of Kirin’s long-term goal of net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its entire value chain by 2050.
In France, Moët Hennessy partnered with maritime transportation start-up Neoline to pioneer a new sail-powered cargo shipping solution. The Neoliner Origin sailing ship will begin sailing between France and the US from July, transporting 20 containers of Hennessy cognac every month with 80%-to-90% fewer carbon emissions than a conventional ship.
Governance
Back to South Korea, and AB InBev’s OB Beer earned ‘Best Employer’ recognition for a fourth consecutive year. The global HR evaluation organisation Top Employers Association also awarded OB with the highest score among domestic companies, the division’s second consecutive appearance.
Finally, Carlsberg featured in the list of Forbes’ 2024 World’s Best Employer, marking the group’s fourth consecutive year of recognition at an international level.
