Aussie brewer Lion is carbon neutral now, eyes 100% renewables in 2025

Australian brewer Lion Pty Ltd this week announced a 100% renewable electricity target for its beer production by 2025, and said it has already achieved carbon neutrality for 2020 with the help of certified carbon credits.

As part of an existing carbon reduction programme, the brewer has reduced by 30,000 tonnes, or 28%, its absolute carbon footprint from 2015. This has been achieved with the help of energy efficiency upgrades, biogas utilisation, rooftop solar, and power purchase agreements (PPAs) for renewable energy. To offset its remaining organisational carbon footprint, Lion has purchased carbon offsets from Tasman Environmental Markets.

“We see offsetting our emissions as a last lever while we continue to look for ways to reduce our overall carbon emissions right across our supply chain over the longer term,” said CEO Stuart Irvine.

On announcing its climate neutrality plans in November 2019, the company said the offsets will compensate for Lion’s remaining direct manufacturing emissions, like natural gas and electricity consumption at breweries (Scope 1 & 2) and some indirect (Scope 3) emissions like business travel. It also said it planned to collaborate with its supply chain to tackle Scope 3 emissions, including those related to ingredients, packaging and transport.

The offsets from Tasman Environmental Markets come from carbon abatement projects that deliver bush regeneration and protect vital habitat and food sources for native wildlife.

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