This is Mission Possible: How Carlsberg is demonstrating business leadership on sustainability

This series of video interviews showcases the sustainability superheroes who are achieving 'Mission Possible' for their business. Here, Carlsberg's director of sustainability Simon Boas-Hoffmeyer explains how the brewer has adopted a leadership position on sustainability through its new CSR programme, Together Towards Zero.


This video series is part of Mission Possible, edie’s new campaign for 2018 which seeks to empower and inspire sustainability, energy and resource efficiency professionals to achieve a sustainable future for their business.

The five-part video series hears from a selection of sustainability leaders from some of the world’s biggest businesses. Each leader discusses exactly how they and their team are taking bold actions in one of the five Mission Possible campaign pillars: Energy, Resources, MobilityThe Built Environment, and Business Leadership.

In the above video, Boas-Hoffmeyer explains how and why Carlsberg has put sustainability front and centre of its business leadership strategy, at a time of serious global challenges.

MISSION POSSIBLE: Five ways Carlsberg is demonstrating business leadership on sustainability

1) Carlsberg has set a 1.5°C science-based target. Carlsberg is one of only three major companies – along with BT and Tesco – that have set and approved a science-based target to reduce emissions in line with the ambition of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C. To achieve this ambition, Carlsberg has vowed to source 100% renewable electricity and eliminate coal as a source of energy by 2022.

2) Its Together Towards Zero strategy sets the bar extremely high. Carlsberg’s new sustainability strategy sets out a range of ambitious short-term, intermediate and long-term sustainability goals. Following the success of its previous strategy, the company is now aiming for a zero carbon footprint, zero water waste, zero irresponsible drinking and a zero accidents culture by 2030.

3) It has aligned itself with the SDGs. Through Together Towards Zero, Carlsberg has readjusted its sustainability efforts in line with the aims and timeframes set through the SDGs. For example, in line with Goal 12 – responsible consumption and production – Carslberg is now aiming for a 30% reduction in beer-in-hand emissions and 50% reduction in water usage at breweries by 2030.

4) It has proved that carbon-neutral buildings are possible, and scalable. Carlsberg’s first carbon-neutral brewery in Falkenberg, Sweden, runs completely on biogas and green electricity. By 2030, Carlsberg aims to make this model the norm rather than the exception by achieving a zero-carbon footprint and zero water waste at all of its breweries.

5) Carlsberg is willing to collaborate for the greater good. The brewer has deliberately set challenging targets to stimulate creativity along the value chain – and it is willing to lead innovative partnerships to achieve change. For example, the Carlsberg Circular Community engages partners to reduce emissions through closed-loop practices.


Achieve YOUR Mission Possible at edie Live 2018

edie’s Mission Possible campaign will be brought to life on the Sustainability Keynote stage at edie Live 2018. Taking place on 22-23 May 2018 at the NEC Birmingham, visitors will be inspired by thought-leaders, coached by industry experts, encouraged to collaborate with your peers, and shown the way by hundreds of innovative suppliers and solutions providers.

Find out more about the show and register for your free pass here.


Luke Nicholls & Sarah George

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