Reducing our carbon footprint
Reducing emissions across the value chain, minimizing emissions from our own operations, and increasing resource efficiency all play a central role in lowering our carbon footprint. Our goal is to achieve carbon neutrality in our own operations by 2030 and across the entire value chain by 2040.
Towards Carbon-Neutrality
Own Operations
The direct greenhouse gas emissions from our operations mainly originate from the production of heat, steam, and electricity used in our production facilities. Since 2015, we have reduced market-based energy emissions by more than half, primarily through renewable energy solutions in both electricity and thermal energy production. Our production facilities in Finland and Denmark already use renewable energy sources such as wood chips and bio-oil for heat and steam production. Additionally, the A. Le Coq and Cēsu Alus breweries generate biogas from wastewater, partially replacing fossil fuels. All our companies in Finland and the Baltic Sea region use renewable electricity, with the Danish facility switching to renewable electricity in 2024.
Our long-term goal is to use 100% renewable energy by 2030. More than half of our energy is already produced with renewable energy sources.
In 2023, Olvi, the parent company, became the first brewery in the group to achieve carbon neutrality. This was based on the use of bioenergy and renewable electricity, with a small share of emissions from the bioenergy plant offset through certified projects.
Value chain
Approximately 95% of the Olvi Group’s climate emissions originate from the value chain. Four-fifths of these emissions come from purchased materials and services. The next most significant sources are inbound and outbound transportation.
We can best reduce emissions from purchased materials through joint development efforts with our value chain partners. We reduce material-related emissions by lightening packaging, increasing the use of renewable materials, minimizing waste, and developing our product portfolio.
Transport emissions are reduced through daily efforts such as route planning and increasing the use of renewable fuels. In addition to renewable fuels, we already use a few electric and biogas-powered trucks.
We operate with high standards
In addition to improving our operations, we are also developing our emissions reporting to better identify impacts generated at different stages of production and other activities. We report our emissions in more detail through the CDP Climate Disclosure, where we achieved a score of B in 2024, compared to the industry average of C. We also participate in the EcoVadis sustainability assessment, where our sustainability work received a Gold rating (top 5% of responding companies). In addition, in 2024, Olvi was recognized by Time magazine by being included in the global list of 500 sustainably growing companies.
To ensure the effectiveness of our emission reductions, we submitted our science-based climate targets (Science Based Targets, SBT) for approval in 2023, and we will publish the updated targets once they are approved. In 2024, we will, if necessary, update our transition plan to meet the approved science-based climate targets, particularly in relation to forestry, land-use and agriculture-based emissions (FLAG).