Adnams launches UK’s first carbon neutral beer

Produced in its eco-efficient brewery in Southwold, Adnams’ innovative new brew is to be distributed exclusively by Tesco nationwide from 28 April 2008.

East Green is brewed in Adnams’ groundbreaking new brewery, which has an Energy Recovery System that recycles 100% of the steam created during the brewing process and uses it to heat 90% of the following brew.

The beer is made with high-yielding barley, grown in East Anglia, which subsequently greatly minimises CO2 emissions from transportation.

Boadicea Hops are also used - they are naturally aphid-resistant, cutting the use of pesticides significantly. To ensure their carbon emissions were as low as possible, Adnams worked with The University of East Anglia’s carbon reduction CRed team, throughout the project.

Dr Simon Gerrard, manager of UEA’s CRed programme, said: "CRed's independent expertise has enabled Adnams to understand the complex nature and range of carbon emissions arising from the production and distribution of East Green beer. The carbon lifecycle assessment from farm to bottle helps Adnams target key elements in the process and reduce the emissions of the overall product. As consumers become more carbon literate, so the requirement for authoritative and independent information becomes more important."

Andy Wood, Adnams’ Managing Director, commented, “Adnams has always passionately believed in ‘doing things right’ and East Green is the latest example of our efforts to reduce our environmental impact in everything we do. Every stage in the development of East Green, from the growing of the hops to the packaging, has been designed to minimise our CO2 emissions as far as possible. The remaining CO2, which equates to less than 1p per bottle, has been offset with Climate Care”.

Andy continues, “We’ve reduced the carbon, but we certainly haven’t compromised on the flavour. Light golden in colour with subtle citrus and grassy hop aromas, East Green is a beer with all the quality and taste that Adnams is famous for.”

Adnams prides itself on continually being at the cutting edge of environmental business practice and was the first brewer in the UK to create the lightweight 500ml glass bottle. Like all other Adnams beers, East Green will be packaged in the lightweight bottle, which has reduced Adnams CO2 emissions by over 415 tonnes a year.

Adnams’ dedication to the environment is exemplified by the many environmental awards they have received. In November 2007 they won the National Business Award for Corporate Social Responsibility and other recent awards include The Carbon Trust Innovator of the Year 2007 and The GoodCorporation Ethical Business Award in June 2007.

East Green, priced £1.79, is available in Tesco stores nationwide from 28 April 2008.