Molson Coors: Stemming the tide of water consumption
Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner could easily be the sort of thing that keeps brewers awake at night.
And while there is no immediate danger of there not being anything to drink in the pubs of Britain, the issue of water - its cost, quality and sustainability - is starting to drip into the consciousness of major brewers.
This is why global brewer Molson Coors - best known on these shores for the UK's top selling beer, Carling - is a lead sponsor of the recently published Water Disclosure Report.
In a nutshell, the Carbon Disclosure Project sent questionnaires to 300 of the world's biggest companies asking them for information on their water use and plans for the future.
More than half replied, while others outside of the original 300 (including Molson Coors) volunteered information about their water use. The deluge of information received is a starting point that reveals water is climbing up the corporate responsibility agenda and becoming a serious issue.
Take the food and drink sector where, alongside Molson Coors, responses were also received from AB InBev, Diageo and SABMiller, among others.
Serious impact
They all have water strategies in place, which is perhaps to be expected considering the serious impact problems with water would have on their businesses.
So what are the issues that need to be addressed? According to Greg Wade, Molson Coors chief supply chain officer, it varies across the globe.
Speaking to The Publican after the launch of the Water Disclosure Report 2010 earlier this month, he said: "In a couple of areas of our business water is becoming more of an issue.
"Colorado is a dryer area, the city is growing, water is finite and how we interact with the community in sharing the water we have is really important. More recently in England, yes it rains all the time, but we have an aquifer (water table) that is not as robust as others. So in a drought conditions we may go on water restrictions and that affects manufacturing."
So making the most of the water one has is an important part of the process. To achieve this, Molson Coors has invested in technology that helps it reuse water in its breweries - though obviously not in the actual production of the beer.
Finding ways to reuse 'grey water' means that the brewer is aiming to reduce its water usage by 15 per cent in the four years from 2008 to 2012. Halfway through the period and the company is well on target, and with 18 breweries in North America and the UK, one can imagine the amounts being saved.
Cash savings and good will
And what might make other companies sit up and take notice is that in time this could also equate to some cash savings and goodwill from your neighbours and customers.
Wade continues: "Today water for us is not a hugely economic issue, but we expect over time water will increase in cost at some level.
"But it is far more a strategic goal for us because of its inherent properties and how it impacts on our product and manufacturing and supply chain in general. Also consumers are looking for more socially responsible companies to purchase products from.
"It is right for us as a business to sustain ourselves and from a customer and community perspective."
So the bottom line is that analysing water use makes sense financially, environmentally, and socially. No doubt there will be a rising tide of companies keeping a close eye on the future Water Disclosure Report findings.
Water Disclosure Report findings
• In the food, drink and tobacco sector 39 per cent of respondents reported detrimental impacts from water scarcity, flooding or draught
• SABMiller has introduced cutting-edge technology which captures methane generated from waste water. This accounts for 10 per cent of
a site's energy mix
• Overall 62 per cent of companies identified water-related business opportunities
