The Journey to Net Zero
For brewers and distillers across the UK, Net Zero is no longer a theoretical ambition, but it’s embedded in the way we now have to think about operations, investment, and future-proofing. As energy markets remain volatile, water resources come under pressure, and carbon regulation tightens, the industry is navigating a transformation that’s both urgent and complex.
Challenges the UK Brewing and Distilling Sector is Facing
Skyrocketing Energy Costs
Heating, cooling, and steam processes account for up to 70% of a distillery’s total energy use. Systems like kettles, stills, and CIP (clean-in-place) operations are often not optimised for recovery, resulting in waste heat escaping up the flue instead of being reused in the process. With energy costs surging by over 80% since 2021, brewers and distillers face unprecedented challenges to maintain profitability while ensuring production continues smoothly.
Urgent Decarbonisation Imperative
The UK Government’s Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy isn’t just policy - it’s actively influencing investment decisions, funding access, and reporting obligations. With 2030 targets fast approaching, businesses without a clear energy roadmap risk not only penalties but also losing ground to competitors as customers and retailers increasingly demand low-carbon credentials.
Critical Water Conservation
Water use in breweries and distilleries varies significantly depending on the production process. For spirits production, distilleries require an average of 26.21 litres of water per litre of spirits produced. Coupled with increasing pressures on abstraction licensing, effluent consents, and rising discharge fees, water is no longer just a utility - it’s a strategic resource.
More Value in Waste Than Ever Before
From spent grain biofuel to captured CO2 for carbonation, the by-products of brewing and distilling are increasingly being transformed into potential revenue streams. The challenge lies in developing systems that recover value while maintaining ingredient safety, traceability, and reliable day-to-day production.
How Veolia Supports the Transformation
Sustainability in brewing and distilling isn’t achieved through isolated fixes. It demands an interconnected approach - where energy, water, and waste solutions don’t just coexist, but actively enhance your core operations. That’s why at Veolia, we don’t rely on generic templates. We build partnerships, grounded in technical credibility and operational insight.
We take the time to walk your site, engage your teams, and understand the unique process flows and constraints you work with every day. Whether it’s optimising the heat profile of a pot still or aligning effluent discharge with seasonal production shifts, we start with a clear view of your operating reality.
We believe progress comes from:
- Asking better questions: Where is energy being used, and where is it being lost? Could a process by-product power another part of the site?
- Connecting systems that don’t usually talk: Could cooling water flows inform your steam demand? Could anaerobic digestion (AD) support on-site heating?
Linking performance to outcomes: If we reduce water consumption by 40%, what does that free up - in cost, capacity, or carbon?
This mindset drives everything we do, from designing a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant to implementing a zero-waste roadmap. It’s about treating sustainability not as an add-on, but as a fundamental enabler of better production.
Veolia helped one leading UK distiller reduce water consumption by more than 50% and reduce carbon emissions by over 7,000 tonnes per year.
A brewery partnered with Veolia to implement CHP and water reuse, saving over £600,000 annually while meeting internal sustainability KPIs.
Results That Matter
Additional Services for Operational Optimisation
Industrial Services & Cleaning
- Efficient, sustainable CIP systems that minimise downtime and resource use.
- Mobile industrial cleaning units for tank cleaning, heat exchanger descaling, and emergency response.
- Optimisation of cleaning chemicals and rinse cycles to improve efficiency and reduce effluent loads.
Strategic Sustainability Services
- Net Zero Roadmapping: Tailored carbon reduction plans backed by data and technical feasibility.
- On-site embedded Veolia teams to manage utilities, reduce operating expenses (OPEX), and deliver continuous improvement.
- Compliance and reporting support for Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR), UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) and broader sustainability frameworks.
Total Waste and Recycling Services
- Custom waste collection, segregation, and recycling programmes for packaging, food waste, and production by-products.
- On-site waste audits to uncover resource recovery opportunities and reduce general waste volumes.
- Partnerships that help breweries and distilleries reach their zero-waste-to-landfill and producer responsibility goals.
Contact our team today to improve your environmental impact through smart waste management.
Take the Next Step
We’re proud to support the heritage and innovation behind UK brewing and distilling. Partner with Veolia to embed circularity into your brewery or distillery - and turn sustainability into a source of competitive advantage.
