Bira 91's Mysuru brewery becomes a Net Zero Brewery

Celebrating Earth Day 2023, Bira 91 has declared the carbon neutrality of its Mysuru brewery, making it a Net Zero brewery. This milestone exemplifies Bira 91's unwavering dedication to sustainability as it continues to work towards its goal of becoming a Net-Zero beer company by 2025 through its Mission To Zero initiative.

Through an aggressive, 360-degree action plan to reduce energy use at its largest brewery in Mysuru, and transition to a 100% clean, renewable energy, Bira 91's cut Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions significantly to achieve this milestone.

Its carbon emissions for the calendar year 2022 were independently assessed and certified by TÜV NORD, one of the world’s leading agencies, to assess the carbon footprint of companies. The assessment was done in compliance with global ISO 14064 standards, GHG Protocol, and ISAE 3410.

Speaking of the milestone, Ankur Jain, founder, and chief executive officer, B9 Beverages, said, “At Bira 91, we believe that beer can be even more flavorful if produced in sync with nature. We embarked on the Net-Zero journey a few years back, and I am extremely proud that Mysuru Brewery has set a major milestone by becoming India’s first Net-Zero brewery. The Mission to Zero is perhaps the most important work that our company is doing. With a significant manufacturing footprint in India, we feel that we have the responsibility and opportunity to be stewards in the area of carbon neutrality and inspire all manufacturing companies in India to achieve Net Zero. I congratulate our Net Zero Team for working hard and with creativity to achieve what could have seemed unachievable when we announced this goal last year."

Bira 91 embarked on its sustainability journey with the launch of the 'Mission to Zero' initiative last year. The company outlined four key areas to accomplish Mission To Zero - shifting to 100% clean energy, 60% reduction in energy consumption, reducing water usage by 50, and complete eradication of waste destined for landfills from all its breweries by 2025. The foundation of this initiative can be traced back to the collaboration between Kirin Holdings and B9 Beverages, which led to the establishment of the B9-Kirin Centre for Sustainable Growth, with a focus on environmental sustainability and business synergies. Consequently, the center initiated its Net Zero project, intending to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.

Sharing his perspective, Hiromasa Honda, managing director, Kirin Holdings Singapore, said, “At Kirin, we are dedicated to fostering shared social and economic value with all our stakeholders while, simultaneously striving for sustainable growth. Our partnership with Bira 91 over the past few years is a testament to this vision. By sharing our expertise in innovation and sustainable practices, we have been able to craft the highest quality, sustainable products together.”

He further added, “We are delighted to announce a significant milestone in our joint net-zero vision, with Bira 91's Mysuru brewery becoming India's first carbon-neutral beer manufacturing unit. This remarkable accomplishment, coupled with the soaring demand for Bira 91 beers, is a prime example of how economic growth and social responsibility can work in harmony. We take great pride in our partnership with Bira 91 and look forward to continuing our journey toward a more sustainable future.”

Bira 91’s Mission to Zero has been focused on reducing energy use in its breweries by making its manufacturing processes more automated and efficient. It has transitioned to 100% renewable energy and electricity, produced through solar, hydroelectricity, wind, and other clean sources. As a result the brewery has eliminated its Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions, cutting down a remarkable 5000 tonnes since FY2021. The facility has also made significant strides in water conservation, saving a staggering 31 million liters of water, equivalent to over 120 million glasses. Moreover, by planting over 500 trees of local varieties on the premises, providing a natural carbon sink for the community. The brewery has achieved this Net Zero milestone several years ahead of its global peers in the sector.

More than eleven pints of Bira 91 are enjoyed every second, and as the company scales up, the company acknowledges its responsibility to craft not only the most flavorful beers but also the greenest beers on the planet. The company will continue to spearhead India's emerging Net-Zero movement, setting a bold precedent for other companies to follow.