APPMA members were treated to a tour of Lion's XXXX brewery in Brisbane last week, a showcase site for many of the company's sustainability practices. The tour was followed by a dinner at Newstead Brewery, an independent family-owned craft brewery.
Organised as part of APPMA's regular member dinner series, the tour at XXXX brought together some 65 members, some of which had travelled interstate to attend. Members learned about the history of brewing, the capabilities of the XXXX plant and sustainability measures in place, while gaining an understanding of the strength of the brand in Queensland culture.
A tour highlight included a stop off in the 'museum' of packaging, where some of the older packaging formats were on display. A display showed how early cans required a separate opener, but the introduction of the ring-pull tab saw the popularity of the format soar -- a trend which continues today as consumers increasingly choose cans over glass. Today, 58% of the production at the XXXX site is in cans, the rest split between kegs and glass.
One of Queensland's top beer brands, XXXX was first brewed in the Sunshine State back in 1878 and the company prides itself on 145 years of brewing excellence. The main brands are XXXX GOLD, an easy drinking beer brewed at 3.5%, the original XXXX Bitter, a full flavoured lager; XXXX Summer Bright Lager a full strength, low carb beer, and the latest addition to the portfolio, introduced in 2020, is the easy drinking lager XXXX Dry.
XXXX is owned by Lion, a major player in the beverage industry in Australia and New Zealand, with a robust sustainability strategy focused on environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and governance. APPMA members learned that at the forefront of its environmental efforts is a strong commitment to reducing plastic use and promoting sustainable packaging.
Lion's 2022-2025 sustainability strategy is structured around three pillars. The first, demonstrating brave and enduring environmental leadership, includes zero carbon, water stewardship, circular economy initiatives, and a plastic pledge.
Lion’s Plastic Pledge includes removing significant sources of plastic from its consumer packaging. In 2021, Lion eliminated plastic shrink wrap from its cans and aims to remove plastic wrap from bottles by 2025, with a target to eliminate plastic labels from bottles by 2030. These measures will collectively remove over 630 tonnes of plastic from their supply chain annually. By 2025, Lion’s packaging will be composed of more than 50 per cent recycled content, fully recyclable, and wherever feasible, lighter to diminish waste and carbon emissions.
As the first major carbon-neutral brewer in Australia in 2020, Lion has shown a proactive approach to addressing climate change. The company aims to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 55 per cent and scope 3 emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, with a goal of achieving a net-zero value chain by 2050. Lion also plans to transition to 100 per cent renewable electricity for brewing all its beers by 2025.
Lion’s commitment to water stewardship involves setting efficiency targets for their breweries and working with partners to protect local water resources. This includes initiatives like monitoring and improving wastewater quality and implementing best practices to reduce water usage in sourcing raw materials. Through these efforts, Lion ensures the sustainability of its business and the quality of its products.
Lion’s involvement in container deposit schemes (CDS) across several Australian states reflects its commitment to promoting a circular economy. By facilitating the recycling of approximately 70 per cent of the containers they distribute, Lion significantly contributes to litter reduction and higher return and reuse rates.
