Budweiser Adjusts ‘Misleading’ Renewable Energy Claim From Website Following Watchdog Complaint
A man holds a Budweiser beer bottle. (Photo: Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images via AP Images)
Following a complaint from Irish authorities, brewing giant Budweiser has been impelled to amend statements on its website claiming it uses 100% renewable electricity.
The discrepancy came to light earlier this year when Senator Lynn Boylan filed a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority. According to Boylan, Budweiser has never released a detailed breakdown of its energy use, making its renewable energy claims unverifiable and potentially misleading.
Advertising authorities in both the UK and Ireland concurred, leading to the issue being “informally resolved.” The claim that “Budweiser is brewed with 100% renewable electricity” is now followed by an asterisk, which directs to the statement:
“The actual electricity used to brew Budweiser is not from 100% renewable sources, but Budweiser ensures that an equivalent amount of energy is generated under green energy agreements to offset the amount of non-renewable energy used from the National Grid to power our brewing processes.”
In other words, Budweiser is alleging that its operations are carbon neutral, though that phrase doesn’t appear anywhere on its website. In a point-by-point explanation surrounded by images of solar panels and wind turbines, the brand says it’s involved in a 20-year power purchase agreement that offsets more electricity than it consumes. Despite the clarification, the website still includes a “100% Renewable” logo sans asterisks.
Senator Boylan celebrated the change in a social media post, declaring it “another win against greenwashing.”
Another win against Greenwashing!!
Budweiser has had to clarify a claim on that its beer is brewed using “100% renewable” energy.
It was argued by the complainant, Irish senator Lynn Boylan, that the text was misleading and couldn’t be substantiated.https://t.co/dq4c0w9GEl— Lynn Boylan 🍷📖🐾 (@LNBDublin) May 30, 2024
Budweiser is owned and operated by Anheuser-Busch InBev, the international alcohol giant behind Bud Light, Stella Artois and Corona. In 2021, the conglomerate announced a goal to achieve net zero emissions across all its brands within the next two decades. Since then, however, AB-InBev has reportedly pulled advertising touting its net-zero goals according to Brauwelt International, leading some to speculate a readjustment behind the scenes.
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