Key Global Beverage Companies Share Commitment to Addressing Climate Change in Operations and Supply Chains
BIER Releases Joint Commitment Statement
May 20, 2015 /3BL Media/ - Given the global beverage sector’s share of Global Greenhouse Gases (GHG) is estimated at 0.4%, climate change reduction and adaptation are crucial components for environmental sustainability strategies in the beverage industry. Climate change has significant ramifications for water and energy -- vital resources both within our direct operations, as well as within the broader production supply chain. Thus, a compelling business case can be made from the beverage sector to recognize and adapt to these environmental challenges.
Select members of the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) recognize the need for more focus on the issue of climate change, and have joined together to make a commitment addressing this important challenge. Through their collective action, these global beverage leaders:
- Recognize climate change as one of the greatest challenges facing the continued prosperity of society, particularly to those in emerging markets;
- Commit to continuing to ‘do their part’ to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions not only across their own operations, but also by driving action through their supply chains; and
- Support an international framework of national GHG reduction targets and commitments to invest in adapation.
BIER members have been leaders within their industry in developing responses to today’s water challenges. “It is through these new commitments that we hope to leverage our collective expertise and resource in water management to build greater resiliency of our society to climate change,” says Jamie MacKinnon, Molson Coors representative and BIER Climate Change & Energy group lead. “We believe this commitment to collective action to build the resiliency of our shared water resources will allow BIER Members to be a play an important role in the solution.”
“There are significant opportunities for beverage companies to take a leading role and improve impacts beyond beverage sector operations,” adds Tod Christenson, BIER Director. “Through our work together, BIER members accelerate change through technical collaboration, development of sustainable solutions, and a continued commitment to partnering on this global challenge.”
BIER’s Joint Commitment on Climate Change is available for download at: http://bit.ly/CCBIER
About BIER
The Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) is a technical coalition of leading global beverage companies working together to advance environmental sustainability within the beverage sector. BIER aims to affect sector change through work focused on water stewardship, energy efficiency and climate change, beverage container recycling, sustainable agriculture, and eco-system services. BIER members engaging on the commitment include: Anheuser-Busch InBev, Bacardi, Brown-Forman, Carlsberg, The Coca-Cola Company, Constellation Brands, Inc., Danone Waters, Diageo, Fetzer Vineyards, Heineken, Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., MillerCoors, Molson Coors, New Belgium Brewing Company, Ocean Spray Cranberries, PepsiCo, Pernod Ricard, SABMiller, and Sun Orchard.
