Carlsberg Britvic Launches 10-Year UK Water Replenishment Partnership
Carlsberg Britvic has partnered with conservation charity The Rivers Trust on a 10-year water replenishment initiative near its Rugby production facility, marking Carlsberg Group’s first water replenishment project in Europe.
Carlsberg Britvic has announced a 10-year partnership with environmental charity The Rivers Trust to invest in nature-based water replenishment projects near its Rugby manufacturing site in the UK. The agreement marks Carlsberg Group’s first water replenishment project in Europe and aligns with its global "Brewing Tomorrow" sustainability framework.
Under the partnership, the beverage manufacturer aims to replenish 100% of the water consumed at its Rugby facility by 2032. The Rugby site processes approximately one million cubic meters of water annually and was designated a high-risk location under Carlsberg Group's water risk assessment, which evaluates production scale, future growth, watershed availability, water quality, and local regulatory conditions.
The initial project is scheduled to begin in October on the River Alne within the Warwickshire Avon catchment, situated 15 miles from the Rugby site. On-the-ground work will be delivered by the Severn Rivers Trust. The project will reconnect the river with its natural floodplain and establish storage wetlands to hold and slow water flow naturally. Initial estimations indicate these measures will replenish more than 328,000 cubic meters of water per year, while reducing flood risks for downstream communities such as Henley-in-Arden and Alcester.
Carlsberg Britvic has established an interim milestone to replenish 400,000 cubic meters of water per year by 2028 before reaching its 100% replenishment target by 2032. Ongoing monitoring will evaluate the long-term performance of these nature-based solutions.
"Water is at the heart of every drink we make, so protecting this precious resource is not only important for our business, it’s a responsibility we take seriously," said Paul Davies, Chief Executive Officer of Carlsberg Britvic. Davies noted that investing in operational business resilience directly links to the health of surrounding environments and communities.
Formed in January 2025, Carlsberg Britvic operates five production facilities and 16 logistics depots. It is the largest multi-beverage supplier in the UK and represents Carlsberg Group's largest market by revenue.
Key facts
- Carlsberg Britvic and The Rivers Trust signed a 10-year water replenishment partnership.
- Marks Carlsberg Group's first water replenishment project in Europe.
- The Rugby manufacturing site uses about 1 million m³ of water annually and is classified as a high-risk site under internal assessments.
- Target is to replenish 100% of Rugby's water use by 2032, with an interim goal of 400,000 m³ per year by 2028.
- Projects are estimated to replenish over 328,000 m³ per year.
- First project begins in October on the River Alne in the Warwickshire Avon catchment, executed by Severn Rivers Trust.
- Carlsberg Britvic was formed in January 2025 and is Carlsberg Group's largest market by revenue.
Why it matters
Demonstrates how large-scale beverage manufacturers are securing operational resilience and managing watershed risks by investing long-term in nature-based replenishment projects near high-risk production sites.
- Carlsberg Group — Newsroom: “Carlsberg Britvic and The Rivers Trust Launch 10-Year Water Replenishment Partnership”
This article was prepared by WBI.org from the sources listed above with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a WBI editor before publication. Information is attributed to its original sources.