Craft beer brand Bira 91 has announced that its Mysuru brewery has become India’s first net zero brewery, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to sustainability. The achievement is part of Bira 91’s “Mission to Zero” initiative, which aims to become India’s first net-zero beer company by 2025.

Bira 91’s aggressive action plan to reduce energy use at its largest brewery in Mysuru has significantly cut its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, enabling the company to eliminate its carbon emissions and achieve its net-zero milestone. The carbon emissions for 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, in compliance with global ISO 14064 standards, GHG Protocol and ISAE 3410.

As part of its Mission to Zero, Bira 91 has focused on making its manufacturing processes more automated and efficient, resulting in a 60% reduction in energy consumption. The company has also transitioned to 100% renewable energy and electricity, produced through solar, hydroelectricity, wind and other clean sources. In addition, the brewery has made significant strides in water conservation, saving 31 million litres of water and planting over 500 trees of local varieties on the premises, providing a natural carbon sink for the community.

Ankur Jain, Founder and CEO of B9 Beverages, said, “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.”

Jain added that the neutrality in carbon emissions at the Mysuru brewery has led to significant cost savings in manufacturing efficiency, with energy costs declining by 40-50%. The achievement is also in line with 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.

Hiromasa Honda, Managing Director at Kirin Holdings Singapore, said the Mysuru brewery becoming India’s first carbon-neutral beer manufacturing unit, coupled with the soaring demand for Bira 91, indicated that “economic growth and social responsibility can work in harmony.”

B9 Beverages, which owns Bira 91, has raised $70 million from a funding round led by Kirin Holdings, and another $10 million from MUFG Bank over the past five months. Bira 91 also acquired alcobev retail chain The Beer Cafe last year to strengthen its play in pubs and taprooms and build a direct-to-consumer platform.

The achievement of Bira 91 in becoming India’s first net zero brewery is a testament to the company’s unwavering dedication to sustainability. The company has set a bold precedent for other companies to follow, as it continues to spearhead India’s emerging Net-Zero movement.

Bira 91’s Mission to Zero has outlined four key areas to accomplish its goal of becoming India’s first net-zero beer company by 2025. The company’s focus on shifting to 100% clean energy, reducing energy consumption by 60%, reducing water usage by 50%, and complete eradication of waste destined for landfills from all its breweries, demonstrates its commitment to achieving its sustainability goals.

As a result of Bira 91’s initiatives, the company has achieved its net-zero milestone several years ahead of its global peers in the sector. With more than eleven pints of Bira 91 enjoyed every second, the company acknowledges its responsibility to craft not only the most flavorful beers but also the greenest beers on the planet. Bira 91 is well on its way to achieving its Mission to Zero and discuss the significance of Bira 91’s achievement.

References:

1. Bira 91’s Mysuru Brewery becomes India’s first Net Zero Brewery

2. Bira 91 Accelerates Its 2025 Net-Zero Mission with Carbon Neutral Brewery

3. Bira 91's Mysuru Brewery becomes India’s first Net Zero brewery