Budweiser corrects ‘misleading’ renewable energy claim

A man holds a bottle of Budweiser beer. (Photo: Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images via AP Images)

Following a complaint by Irish authorities, brewing giant Budweiser has been forced to change statements on its website claiming it uses 100% renewable energy.

The discrepancy came to light earlier this year when Senator Lynn Boylan complained to the Advertising Standards Authority. According to Boylan, Budweiser has never published a detailed breakdown of its energy consumption, making its renewable energy claims unverifiable and potentially misleading.

Advertising authorities in the UK and Ireland agreed with this, leading to an “informal resolution of the issue”. After the claim that “Budweiser is brewed from 100% renewable energy,” there is now an asterisk that refers to the statement:

“The actual electricity used to brew Budweiser beer does not come from 100% renewable sources, but Budweiser ensures that an equivalent amount of energy is produced under green energy agreements to offset the amount of non-renewable energy used from the national grid to power our processes brewing beer.”

In other words, Budweiser claims that its operations are carbon neutral, although this phrase does not appear anywhere on its website. In a detailed explanation surrounded by photos of solar panels and wind turbines, the brand says it is committed to a 20-year power purchase agreement that offsets more electricity than it uses. Despite clarifications, the website still shows the “100% renewable” logo without the stars.

Senator Boylan praised the change in a social media post, hailing it as “another victory in the fight against greenwashing.”

Another win with Greenwashing!!
Budweiser had to clarify the claim that its beer is brewed using “100% renewable” energy.
The complainant, Irish senator Lynn Boylan, argued that the text was misleading and could not 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 its brands over the next two decades. However, according to Brauwelt International, AB-InBev has since withdrawn advertisements extolling its net zero goals, leading some to speculate about changes being made behind the scenes.

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