Ambev announces the first large carbon neutral brewery and malt in Brazil

Ambev's brewery in Paraná and malting in Rio Grande do Sul achieved a 90% reduction in carbon emissions and the neutralization of the remaining 10%

Yesterday, Thursday (30/09), Ambev announced the launch of a carbon neutral brewery and malt shop in Brazil, the company's first. The units, which have been operating in recent years, have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere by 90% and neutralized the remaining 10%. The company invested BRL 137 million in the initiative over the last five years. Also read this news: Ambev has more than 100 job openings, internships, talent pools and young apprentices

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Neutrality in carbon emissions

To achieve carbon neutrality at the brewery in Paraná and the malt shop in Rio Grande do Sul, Ambev installed biomass boilers, implemented processes to reuse energy from biogas, started using electricity from renewable sources and replaced traditional forklifts with electric ones.

The neutralization of the remaining 10% was possible thanks to carbon credits purchased by the company. “We invest in projects that offset residual emissions in our production chain”, explains Rodrigo Figueiredo, vice president of sustainability and supplies at Ambev.

More Ambev units will be carbon neutral

According to the company, four more breweries will also operate with carbon neutral emissions by the end of 2021. Ambev expects to achieve neutralization in 100% of its units in the coming years, but does not inform the maximum period expected for this to happen.

For 2025, Ambev plans that 100% of the electricity purchased will come from renewable sources, in addition to a 25% reduction in carbon emissions along its value chain. The company also wants to use returnable packaging or mostly produced with recycled materials in all its products.

Check out this news: Ambev will build 48 solar plants in the company's distribution centers throughout Brazil

Ambev, leader in beverage manufacturing, announced that it will build 48 solar power plants to supply 94 distribution centers in Brazil. The plan is part of the company's commitment that by 2025, the company will consume 100% renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions by 25%. 51 solar panels will be installed, with a generation capacity of 19 megawatts (MW), enough to supply 15 homes.

The solar plants will be built in 21 States and in the Federal District, where Ambev operates. The project will be carried out in cooperation with Solution, GD Solar and Gera Energia, which will reduce 46 thousand tons of CO² annually. They will be responsible for the entire project and will deliver power to Ambev on a 10-year contract. After this period, beverage manufacturers will have the option to purchase units.

Last month, the project's first solar power plant was inaugurated in Anápolis, in the State of Goiás. The plant is built in the shape of the Budweiser brand and will provide on-site service to the company's four distribution centers. By December, another 20 units will be inaugurated, and the others should be used by the end of the first quarter of next year.

Leonardo Coelho, Director of Sustainability and Supply at Ambev, points out that the idea for the solar project came from an initiative to supply energy to the group's brewery. Last year, Ambev's Budweiser announced the construction of an 80 MW wind farm in Bahia. The venture will be built in cooperation with the investment manager Casaforte, which should start operating in early 2022, and will supply 100% of the consumption of the five breweries that produce Budweiser in the country.