Asahi Group accelerates Net-Zero ambitions to 2040 

JAPAN – Asahi Group, a Japanese beverage holding company, is pushing forward with its commitment to combat climate change by advancing its net-zero deadline from 2050 to 2040, aligning with the global heating limit of 1.5°C set by the Paris Agreement.  

The new 2040 net-zero goal, based on the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) net-zero definition, encompasses scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions across the entire value chain. 

The scope breakdown involves direct company emissions from production and building energy usage (scope 1 and 2), as well as the more challenging category of emissions produced by third parties and the group’s supply chain (scope 3).  

The Group has been working to reduce emissions by striving to utilize 100 percent renewable electricity in all manufacturing sites, exploring renewable heat options, and investing in decarbonization technologies like carbon capture. 

Atsushi Katsuki, President and CEO of Asahi Group Holdings said, “What we are facing is bigger than us. Therefore, we need to engage with others to serve the greater good to achieve net zero across our value chain by 2040.  

We will continue innovating and fostering sustainable partnerships, because we are fully aware of the positive impact we can have together.” 

Given that a significant portion of Asahi Group’s carbon footprint extends beyond production to agriculture, packaging, and distribution, the company plans to strengthen collaboration with suppliers and partners to reduce Scope 3 emissions, which constitute the majority of CO2 emissions. 

In 2023, Asahi’s soft drinks arm launched a trial of vending machines in Japan designed to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.  

Each machine has the capability to offset 20 percent of the CO2 emissions generated from the electricity required to operate them. 

Paolo Lanzarotti, CEO of Asahi Europe and International, highlighted the progress made by the group, stating, “Already today our brewery in the Netherlands uses 100% clean heat and, in Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania, 100% of [the] electricity used in our breweries comes from renewable sources.  

We are on the right track and remaining focused and bold in executing to deliver on our Legacy 2030 targets places us in a much better position commercially.” 

Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. HERE