Prazdroj complies early with EU requirements for waste recycling

“Not only in beer production, but also in other processes, have we reduced the volume of waste production and supported its further use or recycling. More than 99% of the waste from our operations and other activities can find secondary use. Our long-term aim is to achieve a zero waste operation,” says Julian Patton, Plzeňský Prazdroj’s Technical Director.

Plzeňský Prazdroj already meets the requirements of the European Parliament and Council’s Directive No. 98/2008 on waste, which sets the minimum weight amount of waste to be reused or recycled in EU member states at 70% by the year 2020.

The vast majority of our waste is of natural character, such as spent grains, so it can be utilized in agricultural production in the Czech Republic and Germany. Yeast and malt waste is used to feed livestock. Sediment from the wastewater treatment plant is added to soil as a fertilizer. Filtration kieselghur waste is plowed into soil in recultivated areas.

By using the biogas generated in wastewater treatment as an source of green energy in its breweries in Pilsen, Velké Popovice and Nošovice, Prazdroj saves one million cubic meters of natural gas annually.

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL No. 98/2008 dated November 19, 2008, article 11 (Re-use and Recycling), paragraph 2: ” In order to comply with the objectives of this Directive, and move towards a European recycling society with a high level of resource efficiency, Member States shall take the necessary measures designed to achieve the following targets …, b) by 2020, the preparing for re-use, recycling and other material recovery of waste shall be increased to a minimum of 70% by weight.”

Notes for editors:

• With total sales of 9.9 million hectolitres in the calendar year 2010 (including licensed production abroad) and exports to more than 50 countries around the world, Plzeňský Prazdroj is a major beer producer in the region and the largest exporter of Czech beer.  
• The 10 sustainable development priorities of Plzeňský Prazdroj: 1. Discouraging irresponsible drinking, 2. Making more beer but using less water, 3. Reducing our energy and carbon footprint, 4. Packaging reuse and recycling, 5. Working towards zero waste operations, 6. Building supply chains that reflect our own values and commitments, 7. Respecting human rights, 8. Contributing to the reduction of HIV/AIDS, 9. Supporting regional development, and 10. Transparency in reporting our progress.
• In 2011, Plzeňský Prazdroj received the Governor’s Award for sustainable development; the event is organized by the Governor of Moravia-Silesia and the President of the Quality Council of the Czech Republic. In 2010, the Business for Society organization presented Plzeňský Prazdroj with a special award for its long-term contribution to the development of sustainable development in the Czech Republic.
• In 2010, Plzeňský Prazdroj invested a total of CZK 41.5 million in sustainable development. It directly employs more than 2,300 people and indirectly creates roughly 33,600 jobs.
• Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s., is a member of SABMiller plc. Pilsner Urquell is an international flagship of the SABMiller brand portfolio. 
• SABMiller plc is one of the world’s largest brewers, with brewing interests or distribution agreements in over 60 countries across six continents.
• For its responsible behavior towards future generations, Plzeňský Prazdroj has repeatedly received the highest awards among all SABMiller breweries.

Contact:
Jiří Mareček
Spokesperson
Plzeňský Prazdroj
724 617 219

Pilsen