As a result of Climate Change, 2018 was the fourth-hottest year on record. Pollution is worse than ever and is damaging our planet. Big brands are sometimes part of the problem, but we can also have a big impact on the solution. Instead of creating a line extension to support green initiatives, we chose to innovate our brewing process to power one of our companies biggest brands—Budweiser—with 100% Renewable Electricity across the USA.

Our global commitment and goal is to source all the electricity we use from renewable sources by 2025. Budweiser had to rethink the way we power all that we do. As a brand rooted deep in our heritage, change is difficult. But the impact we could have was worth the challenge. So, we committed to using 100% renewable electricity from wind power to brew our beer, and partnered with Enel Green Power to build the Budweiser wind farm in Thunder Ranch, Oklahoma. Our 27,500 acre farm has 60 turbines, creating more than enough electricity to help us fulfill our commitment of using 100% renewable electricity to brew every Budweiser in the USA.

As a leader, we felt it was important to create a packaging icon that brands after us would be proud to tout. Now, we proudly display our 100% renewable electricity icon on all our packaging in the USA.

Driving re-appraisal with the younger generation is important for Budweiser, but the key driver here was environmental impact. As a company, our goal is to source 100% of the electricity we buy from renewable sources. This initiative was a huge first step in achieving our 2025 goal, and we are proud to say we are making an impact in year one. Based on the amount of electricity we need in the US, we decided to commission the Budweiser wind farm at Thunder Ranch to generate more than enough energy to brew Budweiser in the USA.

In December of 2017, with the facilities at Thunder Ranch complete, we started producing electricity from wind power to brew Budweiser. In 2018, we were able to brew every Budweiser in the USA using only renewable electricity.

On Earth Day, April 22nd, 2018, we launched our first skus to tout the 100% renewable electricity icon. By September 30th, 2018 every Budweiser sku in the USA proudly featured this icon. All these efforts culminated in a 360 communications plan, launched on the world’s biggest marketing stage: the Super Bowl.

Every year, the Budweiser wind farm at Thunder Ranch reduces CO2 emissions by 400,000 tonnes - the equivalent of removing 80,000 cars from the road. In 2018, we produced over 2 billion Budweiser cans and bottles featuring the 100% renewable electricity symbol and statement. The symbol will roll out to additional international markets as Budweiser reaches our 2025 goal and will be made available to other companies and brands to use.

We take great pride in our sustainability efforts, and our younger consumers are noticing too. Our commitment to renewable energy is driving reappraisal with a younger generation that is passionate about taking care of our planet.