AB InBev launches sustainable supplier platform

The world's largest brewer, AB InBev has unveiled a new supplier forum to assist with environmental stewardship across the value chain, giving suppliers the option to receive educational materials to help reduce emissions and lower water usage.


AB InBev launches sustainable supplier platform

Beck's brewery

AB InBev is launching its Eclipse supplier platform to mark World Environment Day on Friday (5 June).

The free-to-join platform sees AB InBev offer educational support for its suppliers through webinars and partnering opportunities. Eclipse will aim to assist suppliers with ways to reduce emissions and water use and improve their overall sustainability performance.

The platform has been launched, partially in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen many of the US’s environmental legislation rolled back in favour of short-term productivity. Eclipse will educate suppliers on the value of long-term sustainability.

2025 targets

The world’s largest brewer has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2025 against a 2017 baseline. The emissions target headlines a package of commitments that aims to ensure that 100% of direct farmers are “skilled, connected and financially-empowered”, all packaging is returnable or made from “majority-recycled” content and that all communities in high-stress water areas have measurably improved access to, and quality of, water.

The 25% carbon reduction has been submitted through the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTI), and covers scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

Water is a critical goal for AB InBev, and the company is committed to working with communities, as well as WWF and The Nature Conservancy, to build resiliency and improve access to clean and safe water.

The brewer owns numerous beer brands including Budweiser and Stella Artois, the latter of which is involved in the “Buy a Lady a Drink” programme in partnership with Water.org.

The partnership aims to tackle the global water crisis and has provided clean water to nearly 800,000 people in developing regions. It has since been extended to provide for 3.5 billion people by 2020.

Mexican beer brand Corona is being used to communicate a commitment to packaging, which revolves around a partnership with Parley for the Oceans to protect 100 islands against rising marine plastic pollution by 2020.

AB InBev has already saved £46.5m in the past four years through energy-efficiency improvements and is launching a new innovation programme aimed at solving more than 100 sustainability challenges by 2025.

The 100+ Sustainability Accelerator, powered by ZX Ventures, will run annual “boot camps” for start-ups to test and scale solutions that can help AB InBev deliver its ambitious strategy.

edie recently spoke to AB InBev’s global vice president for sustainability Ezgi Barcenas as part of the new #SustyTalk video series. Click here to listen to Barcenas discuss the company’s approach to innovation and supply chain engagement.

Matt Mace

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