Sustainable Development
Energy and carbon
There is a dynamic interplay between the reality of climate change and the future of energy markets. Many countries and companies realise that the only way to reduce carbon emissions will be to invest massively in renewable and alternative energy and new technologies.
Climate change directly impacts on many aspects of SAB’s business. By using energy more efficiently, SAB is not only saving money, it is also reducing the company’s carbon footprint.
The South African government through the Department of Mineral Affairs and Energy’s Energy Efficiency Accord, has requested businesses to reduce their energy use by 12% by 2015.
Since the country’s national electricity crisis in 2008, the South African Breweries Limited (SAB) has reduced its annual electricity consumption throughout its breweries by a total of 17%, well above the initial targeted electricity reduction of 10%.
The company has invested more than R40 million in savings initiatives following a comprehensive and vigorous assessment of electricity usage across its breweries.
SAB’s reduced consumption equates to just under 1%, or approximately 85-million kilowatt hours, of Eskom’s total required savings of 9 Terawatt hours.
The company has now embarked on an aggressive programme to achieve the SABMiller carbon reduction of 50% per hectolitre of beer by 2020.
SAB is also a signatory to the Energy Efficiency Leadership Network Pledge, a voluntary commitment by South African businesses to energy efficiency and a sustainable future.
