Karlovac Brewery Presents Sustainability Report

Karlovac Brewery today presented its fourth sustainability report “We Produce a Better Future.”

The report provides an overview of progress, achievements, and priorities in the area of social responsibility and environmental responsibility in 2012 in three main strategic areas: 1. continuous improvement of the environmental impact of the brands and operations of Karlovac Brewery, 2. empowering employees and communities in which the company operates, and 3. the positive impact of beer’s role in society.

‘- Along with successfully managing the business, we also pay attention to sustainability. In order to reduce the negative impact of our activities, we invest in improving technology and internal procedures. We are also working on strengthening our local community through open dialogue with key stakeholders, sponsoring some of the main local events, through a donation competition, and developing relationships with our neighbors through meetings and joint activities such as the removal of illegal landfills in Strmec last year – said Alexander Gerschbacher, CEO of Karlovac Brewery. He emphasized that promoting responsible consumption is another extremely important area of the company’s social responsibility: ‘As a beer producer, we are aware of our responsibility and therefore promote responsible consumption through various activities. For example, last year we conducted a very successful project educating future drivers in collaboration with the Croatian Driving School Association and under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior.’

Furthermore, the company invests significant efforts in improving the overall energy efficiency of the brewery through continuous process improvements and investments in technology. Zvonimir Nemet, Director of the Supply Chain Sector, presented specific data in this regard: ”In 2012, we made good progress: the total energy consumption required to produce one hectoliter of beer was reduced by 2.6%, the specific thermal energy consumption was 5% lower while the specific direct and indirect CO2 emissions were reduced by 2%. Furthermore, the new filling line opened in 2012 will contribute to reducing water consumption as it uses 15-20% less water per hectoliter of beer produced compared to the old line.’ He added that Karlovac Brewery, in addition to environmental protection, is also focused on ensuring a safe working environment: ‘We adhere to clear and strict rules regarding protective clothing and equipment within our production facilities, as well as in logistics areas. Great attention is paid to increasing safety awareness among operators, implementing safety standards at installations, and improving the quality of personal protective equipment. Karlovac Brewery is committed to sustainable business practices in various areas and will continue to work on further improvements.’