Making our own operations more resource-efficient

Resource-efficiency is the first step towards effectively managing the water-food-energy nexus.  Across our operations, we aim to become 25% more water-efficient by 2015 and 50% more carbon-efficient by 2020, over a 2008 base. Many of our businesses have made significant improvements.  In Uganda, for example, Nile Breweries Ltd has reduced its water consumption from eight hectolitres of water per hectolitre of beer produced in 2006 to 4.7 hectolitres today. 

By reducing the water we use in brewing and packaging our beer, we also cut the energy required for heating and cooling in the process.  Similarly, by using biogas from wastewater or reclaiming local agricultural waste such as spent grains to generate renewable energy, we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.  In India, for example, the burning of rice husks now provides cheaper fuel for our business than conventional energy sources such as coal. 

Find out more about our progress towards our water and carbon targets by exploring our SAM portal.