Today, selected Carlsberg Group companies are joining hundreds of millions of people and businesses across the globe in drawing attention to climate change by switching off non-essential lights at breweries, offices, billboards, warehouses, garages and other locations across the globe for one hour.

Earth Hour is the world's largest grassroots environmental event. By taking part in this global campaign, the Carlsberg Group is acknowledging its commitment not only to Earth Hour itself, but also to its overall goals in the fields of sustainable growth and environmental stewardship. The Carlsberg Group recently published its 2015 Sustainability Report, which details the significant progress made last year in the areas of Resources & Environment, Health & Well-being and People & Policies.

As well as turning off the lights around the world, the Carlsberg Group is launching a campaign called "Happy Earth Hour". The concept, which is based on last year's Earth Hour campaign (#UnplugToReconnect), consists of a social media campaign and an on-trade initiative. The social media campaign encourages consumers to digitally disconnect and shows how beer is a sustainable alternative to social media. The on-trade activity consists of bars handing out envelopes and encouraging consumers to put their mobile phones into these envelopes in order to focus instead on their friend(s) with whom they are enjoying a beer.

"Environmental sustainability is vital to our business, as the majority of our raw materials are sourced directly from nature. The continued success of our company is linked to the health of the environment and the communities where we operate. Earth Hour offers a great opportunity for companies and civil society to cooperate and increase awareness of climate change," says Simon Hoffmeyer Boas, Group Sustainability Director, Carlsberg Group.  

About sustainability at the Carlsberg Group

A key element of the Carlsberg Group's sustainability strategy is the integration of sustainability throughout the value chain. Embedding sustainability in existing business processes, developing policies to ensure standards, driving collaboration through partnerships, and setting global and local targets to improve sustainability performance are the cornerstones of this strategic process. Our three key themes are: Resources & Environment, Health & Well-being and People & Policies.