Carlsberg Britvic has teamed up with The Rivers Trust as it looks to restore rivers, wetlands and floodplains near its site in Rugby, Warwickshire.
The 10-year partnership will support several projects across the Warwickshire Avon area, about 15 miles from the Rugby site, including work on the River Leam to reconnect floodplains, create new wetlands and improve the landscape’s ability to store and slow water.
Water resilience was becoming increasingly important across the UK as communities, businesses and ecosystems face growing pressure from drought, extreme weather and climate change, said Carlsberg Britvic.
In response it had partnered with The Rivers Trust to invest in nature-based solutions designed to improve river health and strengthen the wider catchment, the supplier added.
The first project, which is set to begin next month, will reconnect the River Alne with its natural floodplain and create a network of storage wetlands that will help slow, store and manage water more naturally across the landscape.
The work is expected to reduce flood risk for downstream communities in Henley-in-Arden and Alcester, while enhancing biodiversity through the creation of new wetland habitats and woodland areas.
Rugby was identified as a high-risk site under the Carlsberg Group’s water risk assessment, which looks at both site-specific factors, such as production scale and future growth expectations, as well as watershed conditions, including water availability, water quality, regulation and community-related water risks.
“Water is at the heart of every drink we make, so protecting this precious resource is not only important for our business, it’s a responsibility we take seriously,” said Paul Davies, CEO at Carlsberg Britvic. “This project proves that investing in the resilience of our business goes hand in hand with investing in the long-term health of the environments and communities around us.”
Carlsberg Group’s water commmitment
The partnership forms part of the Carlsberg Group’s global commitment to increase water volume of local rivers to replace 100% of water consumed at high-risk production sites by 2032.
In the UK, Carlsberg Britvic has pledged to replenish 100% of the water used at its Rugby site – approximately one million cubic metres annually – by 2032. It has also set an interim target of replenishing 400,000 cubic metres a year by 2028.
Based on current assumptions, the projects were expected to replenish more than 328,000 cubic metres of water annually, said Carlsberg Britvic.
The partnership, meanwhile, is the group’s first water replenishment project in Europe and supports its Brewing Tomorrow sustainability strategy.
Rivers Trust CEO Mark Lloyd added: “This summer has provided another stark reminder that water cannot be taken for granted. Across the UK, we’re seeing record temperatures and devastating impacts of pollution and drought on our rivers, making water resilience more important than ever for businesses, communities and the environment alike.
“Through partnerships like this with Carlsberg Britvic, we can deliver practical, nature-based solutions that help restore rivers and their catchments, support biodiversity and create measurable water benefits that will be felt for years to come.”
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