Timaru brewery cutting emissions

A major plan to cut emissions at its Timaru operations means DB Breweries will switch from coal to biomass for steam supply at its Washdyke plant by the end of next year.

The brewery wants to halve its carbon emissions by 2030, after reducing its carbon emissions by nearly 50 per cent since 2008

DB Breweries managing director Peter Simons said climate change was a significant threat to the future of the planet and ‘‘by sharing our carbon footprint and specific plans for further reduction in emissions, we hope to inspire action’’.

Simons said the company was looking for other ways to improve on reducing its carbon emissions.

DB corporate affairs director Amber McEwen said the company would be taking up a number of changes over the next 10 years, including at the Timaru plant.

‘‘These measures include employing renewable energy solutions, like biomass, and electrifying our company vehicle fleet.

‘‘In Timaru specifically, we are switching to biomass in 2020 and are currently in the scoping phase for this transition.’’

McEwen said its biggest challenge in Timaru was that the steam supply is generated using coal, so ‘‘we plan to switch to a more sustainable solution but need to ensure the long-term supply of biomass in order to do so’’.

‘‘As we are currently exploring the options for switching to biomass in Timaru, we aren’t in a position to discuss costs, but can say that for DB our spend on sustainable solutions is about doing the right thing by the planet, and we know that in some cases this requires investment in fit for purpose solutions.’’

She said DB is ‘‘committed’’ to reducing emissions to reach its target of 50 per cent less carbon emissions by 2030.

‘‘Compared to the 2008 baseline, we have already reduced our carbon emissions in production by 47 per cent, which has been achieved through investments in sustainable infrastructure, energy efficiencies and improved production processes.’’

She said the company also diverts 96 per cent of waste from landfill. In Timaru this figure is 98 per cent.

‘‘. . . our spend on sustainable solutions is about doing the right thing by the planet . . . Amber McEwen