Kompania Piwowarska published its 2021 Sustainability Report

Kompania Piwowarska presents its achievements in terms of environmental, social and governance factor management from 2021 in the “Better Future 2030” Sustainability Report 2021. 

For the brewing industry, 2021 was yet another difficult year full of challenges, marked not only by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also macroeconomic factors, such as the excise increase, introduction of sugar tax, inflation and growing costs. Despite the unfavourable market circumstances, Kompania Piwowarska has been consistently pursuing the goals of the “Better Future 2030” strategy introduced in 2020. 

– As one of the sustainability leaders on the Polish market, we are obligated to continue setting even higher standards. We believe that such an attitude is not only ethical, but also rational. Sustainable development is an integral element of our business strategy. In the mid-term and long-term perspective, the environmental, social and governance performance is essential and fully aligned with our company values. What serves as guideposts in that area are the ambitious goals of Asahi Europe & International, defined in the Better Future 2030 strategy, as well as the global UN Sustainable Development Goals. Moreover, we spare no efforts to acknowledge the trends indicated by the experts working with us as well as the expectations communicated by our stakeholders – says Igor Tikhonov, CEO of Kompania Piwowarska.

Since 2020, Kompania Piwowarska has been pursuing the goals set out in its long-term “Better Future 2030” strategy, which is composed of four pillars: Planet, People, Portfolio and Profit. The activities carried out within the two first areas directly relate to sustainable development and contribute to the execution of the UN Agenda 2030.

Carbon neutrality in breweries
By the end of the current decade, the leader of the brewing industry in Poland aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its three breweries, by increasing the share of renewable sources in production of electricity and thermal energy as well as optimization of its consumption. In 2021, 100% of electricity used in Kompania Piwowarska’s breweries came from wind, while CO₂ emissions generated by the company breweries were reduced by 55%.

Best in class in terms of water savings
Even though the average water consumption during the brewing process of 2.75 l of water per one litre of beer is an ambition that Asahi Europe & International gave itself time to achieve by 2025, another year in the row, Kompania Piwowarska is best-in-class in terms of efficient water use in the brewing process. In 2021, to produce one litre of beer, the company used only 2.65 litre of water. 
Within that area, Kompania Piwowarska implements new technologies and optimizes its processes, for example using water from production processes for technical purposes. The company uses a computer water consumption monitoring system, while the technological and organizational solutions it applies are a point of reference for the remaining European production sites of the Asahi Group.

Fully circular packaging
In reference to task 12.5. of the UN Agenda 2030, i.e. „By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse”, Kompania Piwowarska presents the following Key Performance Indicators: of waste and by-products generated in the production process recycled, 43% of products was sold in reusable packaging, beer cans were made in 50% from recycled aluminium and 100% of packaging introduced to the market was recyclable. In the Report, the company informs that by 2030, 100% of its packaging will be returnable or recyclable.

Governance
Strategic sustainability management, responsible shaping of the employee zone, systemic risk management, preventing any malpractice, building a sustainable supply chain and partnerships with suppliers are the pillars of Kompania Piwowarska’s organizational culture. 
The company contributes to the execution of tasks 5.1 and 5.5 of the fifth goals of the UN Agenda 2030 related to gender equality, by declaring in the report that by 2030, it will achieve an equal balance of executive men and women in leadership teams. When it comes to 2021, the following KPIs were presented: 26% of women among all company employees, 32% of women in leadership and the pay gap between man and women oscillating between +1% and -4%.
The execution of activities in that area within the company is the responsibility of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team. Nearly all employees of Kompania Piwowarska have completed a training course dedicated to diversity management.

Society
Kompania Piwowarska has been using financial and non-financial resources to support social goals on a Polish nation-wide and local scale – both directly through monetary and material donations and indirectly: by animating and aiding the social activity of its employees and making pro-social purchases. In 2021, Kompania Piwowarska executed activities supporting the execution of the 11th Goal of the UN Agenda 2030 “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”, by the activity of the corporate volunteering program Kompania of Volunteers, which in 2021 engaged 66% of employees. The volunteers completed nearly 2,800 hours of social work, half of that time during working hours. 

Within the framework of the “Good health and well-being” goal of the UN Agenda, Kompania Piwowarska promotes responsible consumption of alcohol and responsible behaviours. Not only does the company comply with the legal responsibilities of alcohol producers, but it also undertakes much broader initiatives, with particular emphasis on the prevention of beer consumption by minors, pregnant women and drivers. In 2021, over 3.6 m people were reached with the message of the “I Never Drink and Drive” social campaign.

– We consistently expand our portfolio with new versions of non-alcoholic beers. Our strategic goal for 2030 is to achieve a 20% share of non-alcoholic products in our offer. In 2021, Kompania Piwowarska had the biggest share in the entire sales of non-alcoholic beer in Poland – 41.5% – says Iwona Jacaszek-Pruś, Corporate Affairs Director at Kompania Piwowarska.

To further protect the environment, Kompania Piwowarska’s Sustainability Report is only available online: https://www.kp.pl/files/Raport-zrownowazonego-rozwoju-2021.pdf