Lammsbräu publishes Environmental Report 2022

Neumarkter Lammsbräu today published its Environmental Report 2022. In it, the organic pioneers from the Upper Palatinate are documenting in detail their commitment to a world fit for grandchildren for the 31st year. Johannes Ehrnsperger, owner and managing director of Neu-markter Lammsbräu: "This year's environmental report also provides information in particular about our practical commitment to a just agricultural turnaround and fair supply networks. In view of the geopolitical situation and the increasingly noticeable climate changes, both have once again taken on additional relevance, even in northern latitudes. An agriculture that is suitable for grandchildren is one of the greatest levers for effective climate, water and species protection and ensures our food supply even in climatically challenging times."

The basis for a successful agricultural turnaround is first and foremost a sufficient incentive for farmers to convert to organic farming in the first place. This includes appropriate and fair payment, based on the actual services that farmers provide to society as a whole after the organic conversion. Johannes Ehrnsperger: "The performance of organic farmers is not limited to the production of the best food, we must not forget that. With every hectare they farm, they also actively contribute to the preservation of our ecosystems. Over the past two years, we have made these 'ecosystem services' visible and quantified in concrete terms in an innovative pilot project: An organic farmer earns around 750 euros per hectare and year for all of us. In total, this means 53,200 euros per year for an average organic farm. This is a result that we want to take directly into account when paying our Lammsbräu farmers in the future. This, like our entire exchange with the farmers, is always at eye level and makes the organic farms fit for the future."

Lammsbräu maintains high standards in its dealings with organic farmers not only in the Upper Palatinate, but throughout the entire supply network. In 2022, varieties of the popular now organic lemonades were the first lemonades ever to be awarded the demanding Naturland Fair supply chain seal.

But not only in the wider network, but also within their own farm gates, the Upper Palatinate company continued to set 2022, which last year became the first medium-sized food producer to join the SBT initiative as part of its Climate Strategy 2.0 developed with the University of Kassel. In doing so, Lammsbräu is voluntarily committing to meeting the 1.5 degree target. "Wherever possible, our practical measures are designed in such a way that they bring several aspects of sustainability forward. For example, by commissioning our modernised 100 per cent organic malthouse, we have, on the one hand, created additional purchasing capacities for regional organic agriculture and thus laid the foundation for around 10,000 hectares of regional organic land. On the other hand, compared to the old plant, we have already saved about 20 per cent of heat energy in the first year (2021: 105 kWh/dt malt; 2022: 83.3 kWh/dt malt)," says Johannes Ehrnsperger. Another example project that has contributed to minimising Lammsbräu's footprint since the end of 2022 is the switch to 100 per cent recycled labels made from German waste paper, which can be procured with short transport distances and fully comply with the cradle-to-cradle criteria. In the future, Lammsbräu will thus be able to save around 67 t of wood, around 1,242,400 litres of water, around 294,900 kWh of energy and around 13 t of CO2e compared to the use of conventional labels.

The basis of all successes are the motivated employees of Lammsbräu, who work every day for a future fit for grandchildren. This commitment extends into private life, which Lammsbräu rewards with a special programme, the LammsECO, designed in 2022 and launched in 2023. Employees can participate voluntarily and receive points, for example, for forming car pools on the way to work, supporting solidarity farming (SOLAWI) or purchasing green electricity in private households, which are converted into euros at the end of the year and donated by Lammsbräu to a non-profit organisation of the respective employee's choice.

Consistent reporting since 1992

Ever since Neumarkter Lammsbräu defined sustainability as a corporate goal in 1977, the organic pioneer has been constantly looking for ways to do business in a way that is even more suitable for grandchildren. In the 1990s, this endeavour was systematised: Starting with the first eco-controlling report in 1992, Neumarkter Lammsbräu has since then been self-critically disclosing its actions in detail every year, thus creating starting points for further improvements. With a finely tuned rolling reporting process that alternates reporting according to GRI, GWÖ and a pure EMAS environmental report in a three-year cycle, the Upper Palatinate company ensures that all corporate divisions are taken along on the path to a future fit for the future. Orientation is always provided by the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, developed in 2015, whose goal is to make the world fairer, healthier, more peaceful and more social along all dimensions of sustainability.

The entire sustainability reporting of the past years and the current Environmental Report 2022 can be found at www.lammsbraeu.de.