Tennent’s has announced enhanced investment of £14.23 million in sustainability, as part of its strategy to boost its contribution to the fight against climate change. The investment is enabling the company to introduce green technology and strategic partnerships.

As part of this the producer aims to be free from single-use plastic in its packaging by 2021, eliminating 150 tonnes of plastic from the environment each year. From next Spring the brand’s larger canned product formats will use cardboard packaging as an alternative to hi-cone rings and shrink wrap. Smaller packs will follow later in the year.

Tennent’s has also become the first brewer to join companies such as John Lewis, Tesco, Unilever and Coca-Cola in becoming a member of The UK Plastics Pact, described as “a trailblazing, collaborative initiative that brings businesses together with governments and NGOs to tackle the problem and move us towards a system which keeps plastic in the economy and out of the environment”.

Meanwhile a newly-built water treatment plant, known as anaerobic digestion, is now operational at Tennent’s Wellpark home. This allows for the on-site treatment of wastewater generated as a by-product of brewing. Alongside this, plans are underway to ensure that all of the brewery’s energy will come from renewable sources by 2025, twenty years ahead of the Scottish Government’s targets.

Tennent’s is made from 100% Scottish barley and the beer’s by-products are then entirely recycled for use as animal feed or organic compost, helping Wellpark to send zero waste to landfill, which it has done since 2014.

The producer has also linked with the 2015 Climate Group to engage people throughout Scotland in the issue of climate change. The not-for-profit organisation, which equips young people with climate change knowledge and leadership skills, will work with Tennent’s to run a series of workshops in pubs throughout the country. Inviting the public to come and join ‘A Pint and a Plan’ sessions, the collaborative gatherings are designed to turn talk into advocacy and action. A full programme of these events will be released in December.

Martin Doogan, group engineering manager at C&C, Tennent’s parent company, said this activity represents a sizeable and enduring investment in the future.

He said: “As Scotland’s oldest surviving business, and one of its best-loved, we take our responsibility to do the right thing very seriously.

“Sustainability is a core part of our brand and today marks a significant step-change in our plans. We’ve leveraged our scale and influence, our passion for innovation and our network of contacts to ensure that we act decisively against climate change, without delay.
“It’s a leap in the right direction – but we’re not complacent and we’re not finished. We will continue to seek out ways to minimise our environmental impact across our entire business, from our transport fleet, to international deliveries. Our commitment is to lasting environmental change; in our company, in our industry and beyond.”

Michael Mackenzie, trustee of the of 2050 Climate Group, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Tennent’s on our ‘A Pint and a Plan’ workshops. These are a novel way to grab people’s attention and to encourage them to take tangible action on climate change. We can’t wait to get started.”

The business has also released an advertising campaign highlighting the importance of sustainability. Ads, which will appear on digital and out-of-home across Central Scotland, will have the strapline: ‘Because Life is Bigger than Beer’. As part of this a new brand film has also been released on social media.