Continuous improvement in water efficiency
Over the past five years, our operations in Slovakia have reduced consumption by 10% to 4.67 hectolitres of water per hectolitre of beer produced, comparing favourably to the industry average.
During this time, at our brewhouse in Saris we have replaced our lauter tun, wort kettle and heat recuperation system to reduce water use. We have also installed a more efficient bottle washer and now use the same water to clean the inside and then the outside of our kegs, so reducing water and chemical use.
Improvements in efficiency are not just about investing in new technology and improving our processes. We are also working hard to make sure all our employees are aware of why we are looking to reduce our consumption and the part they can play.
Stakeholder dialogue in Tanzania
Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, is facing long-term water shortages, exacerbated by problems with the distribution network. Water quality can be poor with high levels of groundwater salinity.
In March 2008, Tanzania Breweries Ltd brought together a range of stakeholders to discuss the short, medium and long-term water challenges facing the city. The output from the day was a statement of priorities detailing actions that should be taken to secure and enhance water resources in the area. This will now be used as a basis for further dialogue with government and donor agencies.
‘Save Water – Save Lives’
In a water-stressed country like Botswana, water efficiency and mapping key activities are essential in ensuring the long-term viability of our operations.
Kgalagadi Breweries has considered a number of alternatives to municipal supplies of water. However, groundwater levels are too low for a borehole to be viable and the small size of the brewery means it is not feasible to harvest rainwater. The focus, therefore, has been on adapting manufacturing processes to reduce water consumption – for example, recovering water from a pasteurizer for secondary operations like cleaning floors and quenching coal ash. The business is also educating employees on the importance of water conservation through its ‘Save Water – Save Lives’ campaign. Meanwhile, it continues to work closely with the government, the water provider and other stakeholders to understand more about the sources, quality and supply of the operation’s water.
Click here to view this case study.
Click here to read past case studies