Carlsberg Group recognized with prestigious ‘A’ score for climate change

Carlsberg Group was recognized for its actions to cut emissions, mitigate climate risks and develop the low-carbon economy, based on the data reported by the company through Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) 2020 climate change questionnaire.

Carlsberg Group is one of a small number of high-performing companies out of 5,800+ that achieved acceptance on the ‘A List’. Through significant demonstrable action on climate, Carlsberg Group is leading on corporate environmental ambition, action and transparency worldwide. CDP’s annual environmental disclosure and scoring process is widely recognized as the gold standard of corporate environmental transparency. In 2020, over 515 investors with over US$106 trillion in assets and 150+ major purchasers with US$4 trillion in procurement spend requested companies to disclose data on environmental impacts, risks and opportunities through CDP’s platform. Over 9,600 responded – the highest ever.

A detailed and independent methodology is used by CDP to assess these companies, allocating a score of A to D - based on the comprehensiveness of disclosure, awareness and management of environmental risks and demonstration of best practices associated with environmental leadership, such as setting ambitious and meaningful targets. Those that don’t disclose or provided insufficient information are marked with an F. CEO Cees ‘t Hart said:

“The acknowledgement by the CDP is a great recognition of our ambitious carbon targets and transparent reporting practices. We are working towards the Science Based Targets outlined in our sustainability programme, Together Towards ZERO. The world needs actions from governments, civil societies and companies to secure the transition to a resilient, low-carbon world. We are on a journey and encourage other companies, industries and value chain partners to decarbonize at a scale and speed aligned with the more ambitious target of the Paris agreements to reduce global warming to 1,5 degrees Celsius.“

Carlsberg is driving the decarbonisation of breweries and the value chain, through the targets set forth in Together Towards ZERO, the Group sustainability programme. Since 2015, Carlsberg has reduced relative carbon emissions by 30% through ongoing focus on efficiency, using 56% renewable electricity and cutting coal usage by 89%.

In perspective, reaching our target of ZERO carbon footprint at our breweries by 2030 will save over 846 thousand tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of taking more than 320.000 cars off the road every year*. The 30% reduction target in our beer-in-hand carbon footprint, will save over 2.1 million tonnes of CO2e, the equivalent of taking more than 820.000 cars off the road every year.

Paul Simpson, CEO of CDP, said:

“We extend our congratulations to all the companies on this year’s A List. Taking the lead on environmental transparency and action is one of the most important steps businesses can make, and is even more impressive in this challenging year marked by COVID-19. The scale of the risk to businesses from climate change, deforestation and water insecurity is enormous, and we know the opportunities of action far outweigh the risks of inaction. Leadership from the private sector will create an ‘ambition loop’ for greater government action and ensure that global ambitions for a net zero sustainable economy become a reality. Our A List celebrates those companies who are preparing themselves to excel in the economy of the future by taking action today.”

The full list of companies that made this year’s CDP A List is available here, along with other publicly available company scores.

*Assuming an annual CO2 emission of 2,6 tonnes per year per car.