Carlton & United Breweries Sustainability Profile

Carlton & United Breweries, now part of Asahi Beverages, says its sustainability work is built around planet, people, and product. The company highlights action on recycled packaging, renewable electricity, water, farming, and responsible drinking. One recent public update says all plastic soft drink bottles in Asahi Beverages’ Australian range now use 100% recycled plastic. Independent sources also note earlier renewable energy commitments, packaging progress, and some criticism around labour, advertising, and water use. Overall, the public picture is mixed: there are clear environmental steps, but also a history of controversy and gaps in transparency.

Positive Sentiment Found
Public sentiment is mixed, but there are some clear positive signals. Independent ethical and packaging sources point to real progress on renewable electricity, recycled packaging, and supply-chain emissions tracking. One assessment says the company committed to 100% renewable electricity by 2030, signed a power purchase agreement, and invested in on-site solar. Another says APCO rated its packaging performance level as 4, or Leading, which suggests stronger packaging management than average. The company also received praise for a barley emissions tracking program with Charles Sturt University, and a LinkedIn post shows internal support for women through HerWorkplace, which won a Drinks Association diversity award. Commons, a values-based finance app, also presents sustainability-focused brand ratings to its users, though it does not give a score here.

Common Criticisms:
The negative picture is also substantial. An independent ethical assessment lists criticism over sports advertising aimed at children, industrial action after 55 maintenance workers were sacked in 2016 and asked to accept much worse pay and conditions, and advertising complaints upheld by Ad Standards in 2012, 2016, and 2018. It also notes a misleading labelling case in 2014, when the company was fined and had to correct Byron Bay Pale Lager claims. Other concerns include water mining disputes in Victoria, opposition to a container deposit scheme, and tax and political donation criticism. These issues suggest long-running concerns about labour practices, marketing, transparency, and environmental responsibility.