We care for the environment and constantly work towards reducing our carbon footprint and improving resource-efficiency. We always put the transparency and traceability of procurements first.

Our responsible footprint is moulded in the supply chain, from suppliers to consumers. As we use significant amounts of raw materials and natural resources, such as grain, energy, water and packaging materials, when producing our drinks, the management of our supply chain and procurement methods have a significant impact on the environment, climate and society. We always look for the necessary resources using the best and most efficient ways, which are also the most environmentally friendly.

 

Environmental responsibility

Environmental responsibility is one of the most important topics in the supply chain for us and our stakeholders. Environmental responsibility is primarily expressed in resource-efficiency: in the efficient use of raw materials, stock and energy, but also in the reuse and optimisation of transport. We constantly make an effort to reduce our carbon footprint.

 

Reducing the carbon footprint

The CO₂ emissions expelled in the environment as a result of our activities mainly originate from production activities and transport. In order to reduce them, we are constantly improving our energy use, making environmentally friendly choices and gradually increasing the use of renewable energy. These are our priorities.

• In order to improve our energy and resource efficiency, we have implemented the ISO 50001 energy management system in the company.
• In 2017/2018, we started using fluorescent lights that are several times more efficient in our production facilities, which considerably reduced the factory’s electricity consumption.
• As of 2020, we use 100% green energy in our production.
• We will establish a solar power station on the roof of our logistics centre by 2021, which will cover 4% of the centre’s annual electricity needs.
• In early 2020, we installed an economiser in front of the chimney of our steam boiler house, which directs the heat from cooling flue gases to the heating system of the production facilities and reduces energy use by 4%.
• By 2022, we will establish a biogas station, which will considerably reduce our fossil fuel consumption.

 

Water consumption and sewage treatment

As the drink industry uses significant amounts of water, it is important for us to ensure the balance of the water ecosystem and gradually reduce water consumption. To this end:

• we constantly invest in technologies that optimise the production process and reduce water consumption;
• by 2022, we will have established our own sewage treatment facility together with a biogas station, which will help us reduce the organic waste expelled to the City of Tartu’s sewage system by around three times; and
• we collect and direct rainwater to a separate stormwater collector, which helps reduce the strain on the city’s water system.

 

Material recycling

We have joined Eesti Pandipakend and Eesti taaskasutusorganisatsioon (ETO), which ensures that our plastic, aluminium, glass and cardboard packages are recycled. Additionally, 94% of drinks produced by A. Le Coq are bottled in reusable bottles.

In 2021, we will start using lighter bottles on export markets, which will reduce annual glass use by more than 700 tonnes. As a result, we will save approximately 25 lorries worth of energy used in transport. We reuse 100% of our packaging waste, such as cardboard, plastic, aluminium and glass, on site. We engage in circular economy with food and agricultural companies, where we reuse our spent grain and yeast. The spent grain and used yeast from beer brewing is used for producing animal feed or food supplements.

 

Responsible purchasing/supply chain

A responsible supply chain means choosing responsible suppliers and ensuring the transparency and traceability of our procurements.

• We assess the adherence of each supplier to the principles of responsible business conduct. We check the ability of each supplier to ensure the quality of raw materials separately.
• We are procuring increasingly more packages made of more environmentally friendly materials in order to reduce the associated risks to nature.
• We are reducing the share of packaging made of fossil-based raw materials and will fully adopt renewable materials (card) in multipacks of canned products by 2021.
• The packaging of multipacks of our canned products have an FSC certificate, which ensures sustainable forest management.