Lion’s annual sustainability report was released today, highlighting the brewery’s performance across key areas, including the environment, social issues and governance.
Justin Merrell, Sustainability Director at Lion, said the company’s approach centres around a belief that they can be a force for good for both the people and the planet.
“Having set ambitious targets that provide long-term direction for our actions, we are making good progress.
“Key 2022 highlights include being recognised as joint winner of the Net Zero Action Award at the 33rd National Banksia Sustainability Awards, progressing toward net zero and continuing to promote the responsible consumption of alcohol,” he said.
Other highlights outlined in the report include:
- Becoming the first large-scale brewer to procure 100 per cent renewable electricity for all Australian and New Zealand operations.
- Achieving a 30 per cent reduction in scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions achieved against the FY19 baseline representing good progress towards the science-based target of a 55 per cent reduction by 2030.
- Redesigning packaging to include over 64 per cent recycled content, well ahead of the 50 per cent by 2025 National Packaging Target goal set by APCO.
- Investing $5.2 million through our community investment program.
- 42,223 Alcohol&Me modules were completed in 2022, with over 400,000 New Zealanders having engaged with the Alcohol&Me program since its inception in 2013.
- Continuing strategic partnerships with Graeme Dingle Foundation supporting New Zealand’s youth to achieve their potential, and with Gotcha 4 Life, delivering mental fitness programs to 2,498 people in Australia.
In December, Lion signed a landmark 100 per cent renewable power purchase agreement (PPA) with the lightsource bp solar farm in Woolooga, near Gympie QLD.
“Combined with our 100 per cent renewable PPA in NSW and the procurement of additional renewable energy certificates from Woolooga for relatively modest electricity consumption in other states, Lion is now the first large-scale brewer in Australia to procure 100 per cent renewable electricity for all Australian operations.
“This achieves our strategic carbon reduction target two years ahead of schedule and will eliminate around 138,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over the 9.5-year agreement, the equivalent of taking 45,000 cars off the road,” said Merrell.
2022 was another landmark year for Lion’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion journey, becoming the first major brewer to achieve certification as a Family Friendly Workplace.
“We were also proud to continue our strategic partnerships with Graeme Dingle Foundation in New Zealand and with Gotcha 4 Life in Australia.
“We continue to invest in the communities in which we work and in 2022 Lion employees completed over 4,700 hours in volunteering,” said Merrell.
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