Environment
Anheuser-Busch InBev marked World Water Day in Vietnam with a viral dance video to promote environmental protection to young people. The ‘Love Water, Act Green’ video debuted on Facebook and TikTok in March, and features fun, flowing dance movements set to vibrant music.
Over in South Korea, AB InBev’s OB Beer unit has commenced this year’s iteration of its annual water purification project. Staff at OB’s three breweries joined in “plogging” clean-up sessions along rivers and waterways, also depositing clay balls containing useful microorganisms into the water. OB has also been conducting a Water Saving Campaign at its facilities to encourage staff to adopt more efficient water-usage habits.
Suntory conducted the world’s first successful direct-fired distillation trial using 100% hydrogen to produce whisky in Japan. The ‘Project WhiskHy’ trial represents a milestone in Suntory’s journey to decarbonise its whisky production while maintaining its quality. The group intends to install the country’s largest 16 megawatt-size power-to-gas system at its Hakushu Distillery to produce green hydrogen for distillation.
Suntory-owned Beam Suntory announced a GBP100,000 (US$123,700) peatland-restoration project in Scotland as part of its long-term ‘Peatland Water Sanctuary’ initiative. The project will use innovative techniques to restore and replenish the peatland, increase water retention, reduce erosion and re-establish vegetation to reduce flooding risks, improve carbon sequestration and restore biodiversity and wildlife in the natural habitat.
Carlsberg was recognised with a gold award at the RMI Analytics conference in Rome for activities to achieve its ZERO Farming Footprint target. Carlsberg’s first steps in this initiative include regenerative barley farming and malting partnerships in Finland, France, and the UK.
Heineken has inaugurated the world’s largest solar thermal plant for industrial use in the beer category at its brewery in Valencia, Spain, which will prevent the emission of nearly 1,300 tonnes of CO2 annually. By the end of this year, the facility will run on 42% renewable energy as part of the group’s target of reaching net-zero emissions across its global value chain by 2040.
In the US, Molson Coors Beverage Co announced ‘Cheers to Our Parks’, a two-year fundraising drive to help support Milwaukee’s county parks. Partnering with local authorities, the group is pledging US$250,000 in match funding to the campaign, which hopes to reach $500,000 of donations by the end of 2025, with a focus on economic growth, building stronger neighbourhoods, and improving sustainability.
Pernod Ricard’s Chivas Brothers division teamed up with three river trusts in Scotland on a new initiative, ‘The River Within’, to help restore and protect the waterways within the charities’ combined catchment areas. The partnership will work to enhance biodiversity, limit water temperature rises from climate change and strengthen the longer-term resilience of the rivers.
Social
Asahi is collaborating with the Fundely Co medical network in Japan on a project to reduce risky drinking, based on a joint study with the University of Tsukuba. The research found that providing non-alcoholic beverages to at-risk drinkers helps them to reduce their consumption. Fundely’s medical institutions are now sharing these findings with the drinkers that they support to help them reduce their alcohol consumption levels. The initiative will reach 520,000 people annually, in support of the Ministry of Health’s ‘Guidelines for Healthy Drinking’ advice.
Asahi also hosted a ‘Smart Drinking’ seminar at Kagawa University to teach students about responsible drinking habits, and discuss mutual respect in bars and restaurants between those that choose to drink and those that do not.
In Mexico, Heineken unveiled a new spin on its global ‘When You Drive Never Drink’ activation with an ad featuring Formula One driver Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez. In the ‘Checo 0.0’ video, Perez pranks a number of Uber passengers by driving them on journeys while drinking non-alcohol beer.
And in Australia, DrinkWise teamed up with the South Australian Government, police and other organisations to launch a moderate drinking campaign alongside the Australian Football League’s annual ‘Gather Round’ event. ‘Always Respect, Always DrinkWise’ messaging was displayed in and around Adelaide’s central business district and game venues to remind fans who chose to drink alcohol while watching games to do so in moderation. The campaign also highlights the importance of respect for family, friends and the community, offers support to any that need it and reminds fans to take advantage of free public transport around the event rather than driving.
Governance
Bacardi expanded its global ‘Shake Your Future’ professional bartending programme, which offers aspiring young bartenders the opportunity to gain the skills and training necessary to embark on a career as a professional mixologist, to India. The brand owner’s most recent cohort for the programme was all-female, to shift perspectives and perceptions of women in the bar industry within the country.
Diageo reported that its combined median hourly pay gap in the UK decreased last year from +4.3% in 2022 to -6.6% in favour of women, which is significantly below the current national average of +14.3%. The group has made notable progress to accelerate gender equality within its business: the percentage of female and male employees is the closest to 50%/50% since reporting began, and 73% of its board are female.
Finally, Molson Coors announced an equal parental leave policy in Ireland that will entitle new parents to up to 52 weeks off, regardless of their gender or path to parenthood. Molson Coors will offer 26 weeks fully paid plus an additional 12 weeks fully paid for neonatal care, if needed, and is one of the few companies operating in Ireland that offers a gender-neutral parent leave policy.
