Asahi Targets Net Zero by 2050 With Greener Manufacturing
Asahi Group has outlined key emissions, energy and packaging targets, aiming for carbon neutrality across its global operations by 2050.
The information is released in the company’s 2025 sustainability report, part of a broader set of documents that also includes its People & Culture Report and Corporate Governance Report.
The combined release provides an in-depth overview of how the business approaches long-term value creation and responsible management across its operations, including in manufacturing.
At the centre of Asahi’s sustainability efforts are group-wide targets that support action on climate change, improved resource efficiency and social impact.
The company’s medium- to long-term environmental goal is to reach carbon neutrality across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2050.
Decarbonisation and energy targets
To track progress, Asahi has set interim goals. By 2025, the company intends to reduce CO₂ emissions in Scope 1 and 2 by 40% when compared to 2019 levels.
It also targets a 70% cut in those same emissions by 2030, while aiming to reduce Scope 3 emissions by 30% by that year.
Asahi reports that, by 2025, it is on course to source all of the electricity it purchases for production from renewable sources.
It also confirms annual reductions in CO₂ emissions of at least 1%, being driven by efforts in its breweries in Europe and Australia. These are on-track to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, according to the report.
The group’s climate priorities involve switching to renewable energy at all operational levels, increasing energy efficiency and working closely with suppliers to cut indirect emissions.
Asahi positions its breweries in Europe and Australia as leading sites, supported by commitments to green electricity sourcing by 2025 and full carbon neutrality by 2030.
Asahi Chief Executive Officer Atsushi Katsuki and Chief Sustainability Officer Drahomira Mandikova said in a joint statement: “We are currently focusing on finalising and activating all our sustainability roadmaps, building One Asahi global capabilities through common methodology and digital sustainability platforms that compile and leverage regional data and accelerating collaborative engagement with different partners, suppliers and companies.
“This requires an innate desire to cooperate in nonhierarchical partnership with wide-ranging stakeholders on a sweeping scale, which the Asahi Group is well placed to do.
“Our employees around the world share the curiosity and drive of our senior management that fiercely advocate collaborative sustainability.”
Manufacturing packaging with recycled content
On packaging, Asahi is targeting the recyclability and reusability of all containers and secondary packaging by 2030.
It also aims to make these from recycled materials as a rule, not an exception.
Asahi has committed to raising the recycled content in glass bottles and aluminium cans to over 50% by 2030, and to using recycled materials in 30% of its PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles by 2025.
This focus forms part of a circular economy model, in which resource use is reduced through reuse and recycling.
The company also plans to cut overall plastic use in Europe by 25% by 2030, with 2019 as its baseline. The sale of unlabelled bottles is also growing, with a 117% increase year-on-year in 2023.
Asahi says its work with suppliers and customers is central to shifting towards lower-impact packaging, and it hopes this will also help meet growing consumer demand for sustainable products.
Water use and operational change
Water is a key resource for beverage production, with Asahi acknowledging the operational and environmental risks posed by poor water management in its report.
The group is focusing on lowering water usage through water plans, better rationing in cleaning processes and improved data tracking.
In its soft drinks segment, Asahi reuses water from cleaning and sterilising cans and PET bottles. It has also changed the shape and flow rate of its cleaning equipment to use less water.
These adjustments are intended to limit environmental impact while preserving quality and hygiene.
With all measures viewed collectively, the company continues to emphasise the role of its employees, suppliers and manufacturing operations across all markets in delivering its strategy.
