Britvic Moves to 100% Renewable Electricity in New Deal With E.ON
Britvic has announced that from October 2018, every Britvic manufacturing site in Great Britain, from its offices to warehouses and factories, will be powered by 100% renewable electricity. The move forms part of a new four-year deal with energy provider E.ON, which will provide power needs for the whole of Britvic’s business operations in Great Britain, including 100% wind generated electricity, sourced from the UK.
Britvic’s decision to move to 100% renewable electricity is driven by its ambition to minimise the environmental impact of its operations. The switch to renewable electricity will save over 17,000 tonnes CO2e per year1 – equivalent to taking more than 3,300 cars off the road for a year. It forms a key part of Britvic’s sustainable business strategy, ‘A Healthier Everyday’ which puts healthier people, healthier communities and a healthier planet at the heart of its business.
The ‘A Healthier Everyday’ strategy is already making a difference in Ireland and Brazil, where Britvic’s operations are powered purely by renewable electricity, and in France where Britvic uses low carbon energy sources across all sites.
Alison Rothnie, Senior Sustainability Manager at Britvic, comments: “We believe that businesses have a role to play in tackling the global climate change challenge, and energy efficiency and emissions reductions have been a priority area for our supply chain operations for a number of years in all the countries where we operate. The move to renewable electricity in GB through our partnership with E.ON is a significant step, not only in helping us to minimise the environmental impact of our operations and reduce our carbon emissions, but also supporting the development of a low carbon future for the UK.”
Iain Walker, Director of Business Energy Sales at E.ON, says: “An increasing number of businesses are looking at ways to reduce their carbon footprint and a Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO)-backed supply provides a guarantee that consumption is offset by energy produced from renewable sources. We are proud our bespoke solutions are contributing to the ongoing energy security of Britvic’s site and in reducing the environmental impact – by providing our expertise and services when it comes to energy solutions we can allow the business to get on with what they do best – providing quality drinks for consumers.”
As part of the new agreement, Britvic will also benefit from E.ON’s Portfolio Solution (EPS), it’s in-house risk management service specialising in helping customers navigate the wholesale energy market and manage exposure to the often volatile markets. The EPS team have been instrumental in assisting Britvic in implementing a hedging strategy, enabling budget certainty while being able to take advantage of opportunities from the market.
As well as focusing on renewable electricity, Britvic is championing other low carbon fuels to reduce emissions across its global operations. For example, in Brazil where Britvic produces and sells Cashew Juice under the Maguary and DaFruta brands, the company uses the waste cashew shells to generate power in its Brazil factories. Britvic has also increased the number of electric and alternative fuel vehicles across its company car fleet in GB to more than 20%.
Britvic’s sustainable business strategy, ‘A Healthier Everyday’ is designed to ensure its sustainability programme is focused on the issues that matter most to its stakeholders, delivering solutions that can make a real difference. The programme is fully embedded in Britvic’s broader business strategy, and is helping to deliver the company’s overarching purpose to ‘Make Life’s Everyday Moment’s More Enjoyable’.
1Based on Britvic’s 2017 electricity consumption and as compared to carbon intensity of standard UK grid electricity, using DEFRA 2018 Greenhouse Gas Conversion Factors
