Adnams launches first carbon neutral beer

Adnams has launched Britain's first carbon neutral beer - East Green. The ale is brewed in Adnam's eco-efficient brewery in Southwold and will be...

Adnams has launched Britain's first carbon neutral beer - East Green.

The ale is brewed in Adnam's eco-efficient brewery in Southwold and will be distributed exclusively in Tesco from 28 April.

The Southwold brewery 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 greatly minimises CO2 emissions from transportation.

Boadicea Hops are also used, which are naturally aphid-resistant, cutting the use of pesticides significantly.

Adnams worked with the University of East Anglia's carbon reduction team, CRed, to ensure carbon emissions were at a minimum.

"The carbon lifecycle assessment from farm to bottle helps Adnams target key elements in the process and reduce the emissions of the overall product," said CRed's Dr Simon Gerrard.

"As consumers become more carbon literate, so the requirement for authoritative and independent information becomes more important."

Environmental impact

Andy Wood (pictured), Adnams' managing director, added: "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 carbon emissions as far as possible.

"The remaining carbon, which equates to less than 1p per bottle, has been offset with climate care."