Carlsberg Group been recognized for leadership in corporate transparency and performance on climate change and water security by global environmental non-profit CDP, securing a place on its annual ‘A List’.  

Based on data reported through CDP’s 2022 Climate Change and Water Security questionnaires, Carlsberg Group is one of a small number of companies that achieved a double ‘A’, out of nearly 15,000 companies scored.

CDP’s annual environmental disclosure and scoring process is widely recognized as the gold standard of corporate environmental transparency. In 2022, over 680 investors with over US$130 trillion in assets and 280 major purchasers with US$6.4 trillion in procurement spend requested companies to disclose data on environmental impacts, risks and opportunities through CDP’s platform. A record-breaking 18,700 companies responded.

A detailed and independent methodology is used by CDP to assess these companies, allocating a score of A to D- based on the comprehensiveness of disclosure, awareness and management of environmental risks and demonstration of best practices associated with environmental leadership, such as setting ambitious and meaningful targets. Those that don’t disclose or provided insufficient information are scored an F.

CEO Cees ‘t Hart said:

“The climate crisis is more pressing than ever, and core to achieving real lasting change is transparency and action. Being accepted to the A-list once again is a great recognition of our carbon & water performance and reporting practices. We recently launched our enhanced ESG programme Together Towards ZERO & Beyond, which includes specific targets on achieving a net zero value chain, and new steps to protect water where we operate. With this we underline our commitment to work together with all partners in the value chain, governments and other businesses, to lead the transition to a resilient, low-carbon world.”

Carlsberg Group was one of the first businesses to set science-based targets aligned to 1.5˚C and has since cut relative carbon emissions from breweries by 40% from 2015 to 2021, and relative beer-in-hand emissions across the value chain by 7% from 2015 to 2019. It is also making strong progress against its target to eliminate water waste, improving efficiency at the breweries by 21% from 2015 to 2021.

Maxfield Weiss, Executive Director, CDP Europe said:

“CDP saw nearly 20,000 companies disclose environmental data this year, including 70% of European companies by market value. COP27 showed the need for transformational change is more critical than ever if we are to limit warming to 1.5 °C. I’m therefore delighted that European companies make up nearly half of all A List companies around the world, including 15 with two A scores and 8 with triple A scores for climate change, forests, and water security leadership. We must cut emissions by half and eliminate deforestation by 2030, alongside achieving water security on the same timescale – there is no route to 1.5°C without nature.

With the EU’s ground-breaking new reporting regulation, the CSRD, now agreed, CDP A List companies are showing they are ahead of the game – taking clear action to reduce emissions and to address environmental impacts throughout their value chains. This is the type of environmental transparency and action we need economy-wide to prevent ecological collapse’’.

The full list of companies that made this year’s CDP A List is available here: https://www.cdp.net/en/companies/companies-scores