Energy Efficiency

Greenhouse and Energy

Given the nature of Foster’s business activities, greenhouse emissions and energy consumption are closely linked.  We work with the Australian Government initiatives including our obligations under the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Act.

Within our business we have also:

• Built anaerobic effluent treatment plants at our Yatala and Fremantle breweries to convert organic wastes into biogas, thus reducing our reliance on fossil fuels;
• Installed a new energy efficient brewhouse at Yatala in Queensland, using heat recovery to reduce thermal energy consumption;
• Substituted biodiesel for part of our diesel mix in our viticultural operations in Australia and California;
• Installed energy efficient lighting controls in our head office;
• Subscribed to an emissions offset scheme managed by Greenfleet - under our partnership almost 35,000 native trees are planted per year to offset the carbon emissions that Foster's staff generate by driving and flying for work in Australia.  The partnership also aims to reduce emissions by changing behaviour, including through innovative programs for fleet (company) car drivers and staff who ‘salary package’ private vehicles;
• Joined eTree, an organisation that facilitates shareholders making choices about receiving written communications from listed companies and reducing the environmental impact of reports;
• We continue to explore opportunities for installation of cogeneration or solar photovoltaic systems at our sites although plans for such installations are currently in place.

Foster's particpates in the annual Carbon Disclosure Project.  Carbon Disclosure Project is an independent not-for-profit organisation which holds the largest database of corporate climate change information in the world.  To view Foster's 2008 submission please click on Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP6).

Foster's Group Limited (FGL) has inegrated the requirements of the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Assessment (EEO) into its company wide Energy & Water Efficiency Program (EWEP), which is a key component of our overall sustainability agenda. 

For our 2008 report under the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Assessment, please click here and for our 2009 report, please click here.

 

Climate Change

Foster's Group accepts the linkage between human activity and climate change and supports the aims of the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse emissions. We recognise the need to achieve continuous improvements in energy efficiency and to minimise greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of suitable market mechanisms.

Our commitment to achieve energy efficiency best practice gives practical expression to this.

National Pollutant Inventory (NPI)

The NPI is a Federal Government initiative to ensure that emissions of a specified number of pollutants are made publicly available.  Foster’s supported the early trials of the NPI to facilitate reporting capability, and the NPI emissions from Foster’s facilities are available on the NPI website.