Beverage Industry Continues to Drive Improvement in Water and Energy Use
Water and Energy Use Ratios Decrease 70 and 66 Percent Respectively Over Three-Year Period
Feb. 6, 2014 /3BL Media/ - Since 2007, the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) has conducted an annual quantitative benchmarking study to evaluate water use and strengthen the understanding and practice of water stewardship in the beverage industry. Adding to this knowledge, in 2012 BIER concluded the first energy use benchmarking study to provide insight into energy use efficiencies within the beverage industry and pave the way for future evaluation of greenhouse gas performance.
“From these ongoing studies, the results show the beverage industry is making genuine strides towards utilizing water and energy more efficiently – each year of the study demonstrates a three-year decreasing trend in water and energy use ratios, coupled with increases in production over the same period,” says Laura Nelson, Consultant for Antea Group and BIER Benchmarking Project Manager. “The studies also illustrate the clear concern and proactive approach these leading companies are taking to improve business practices and diminish environmental impacts.”
In its seventh year of benchmarking, BIER recognized a number of key insights pointing to continued efforts on the part of the beverage industry to improve water and energy usage. The study experienced record growth, with participation from over 1,700 facilities representing 18 member beverage companies across six continents. Over the most recent three year study period, water use ratio decreases were reported by 70 percent of facilities and energy use ratios decreased for 66 percent of facilities. The industry has also seen a decreasing trend in water and energy use ratios for the four main facility types (brewery, distillery, winery, and bottling plants). Finally, the industry is achieving water use ratio improvement at facilities located in areas of water stress, and areas expected to increase water stress by 2025.
The complete benchmarking results report is available for download at www.bieroundtable.com
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 include Anheuser-Busch InBev, Bacardi, Beam, Brown-Forman, Carlsberg, The Coca-Cola Company, Danone Waters, Diageo, Diversey, Ecolab, Heineken, MillerCoors, MolsonCoors, Nestle Waters North America, New Belgium Brewing Company, Ocean Spray Cranberries, PepsiCo, Pernod Ricard, SABMiller, and Sun Orchard. For more information, visit www.bieroundtable.com.
About Antea Group
Antea Group is an international engineering and environmental consulting firm specializing in full-service solutions in the fields of environment, infrastructure, urban planning and water. With access to more than 3,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, Antea Group serves clients ranging from global energy companies and manufacturers to national governments and local municipalities. Since 2006, Antea Group has provided facilitation and technical support to the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable. For more information, visit www.anteagroup.com.
