Energy Efficiency

Greenhouse and Energy

Given the nature of Foster's business activities, greenhouse emissions and energy consumption are closely linked.  We have worked with the Australian Government on the following initiatives:

• Department of Industry Tourism and Resources' Energy Efficiency Best Practice Program
• Greenhouse Challenge Program
• The Energy Efficiency Opportunities Act energy efficiency obligations.

Aside from these major energy efficiency programs across our manufacturing businesses 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.
  

In 2005 Foster's developed the capability to collate and report on its global emissions and that data has been provided to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP4). This will form the basis for the company's ongoing greenhouse emissions and energy use data reporting.  Foster's reports to CDP 5 in May 2007.

 

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.