Carlsberg to expand regenerative barley use across certain brands

Carlsberg Group will expand regenerative barley usage across its brands in the UK, Finland, and France as part of its ambition to source 30 percent of all agricultural raw materials from regenerative practices and sustainable sources globally by 2030.

Within its ‘Zero Farming Footprint’ goal, UK-based Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) has committed to 100 percent regenerative barley for Carlsberg Danish Pilsner by 2027, and for all UK brands by 2031.

The beer giant aims to “promote biodiversity, restore soil health and support natural carbon capture”.

CMBC and the Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) have contracted the initial 23 farmers to grow an estimated 7,000 tons of regenerative barley during 2023.

Partner farmers in Finland are supplying regenerative barley to Sinebrychoff, a Carlsberg Group company. Meanwhile, in France, 45 partner farmers of Kronenbourg SAS are supplying traceable ‘Responsible Barley’. The brand has also committed to using this for 100% of the barley in its Blonde brews by 2026.

The aim is that, by 2026, Kronenbourg 1664 Blonde will be brewed with 100% barley malt sourced from this new agricultural value chain, with 250 partner farmers producing 5,000 hectares of responsibly sourced barley that is traceable using blockchain technology.

Simon Boas Hoffmeyer, senior director of Sustainability & ESG for Carlsberg Group, said that over time, the effort would allow them to offer their consumers lower-carbon beers and contribute to improving the ecosystems they rely on.