Star Pubs & Bars has announced its ambition to decarbonise its estate of 2,400 pubs by 2040, aligned with Heineken’s ‘Brew a Better World’ net zero ambitions.
The Heineken-owned company has made a £2.2m investment in energy efficiency measures and pilots to kickstart its net zero journey.
Managed operator pubs will aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2030 while leased & tenanted pubs will aim for net zero by 2040.
The journey will be a phased approach, with the company first focusing on achieving net zero in its 145 managed operator pubs, making up its scope 1 and 2 emissions, by 2030. This will be achieved by maximising energy efficiency and switching to renewable energy.
In partnership with its licensees and suppliers, the company will then aim to reach net zero across its 2,255-strong estate of leasers & tenanted pubs – its scope 3 emissions – by 2040, setting interim targets to ensure it stays on track.
The net zero ambitions encompass every area of the business, from energy use and its pub investment programme to food and drink and waste management.
The journey will begin with a £1.1m investment in 2023 with the rollout of energy efficiency initiatives in 280 pubs. The programme will start to scale the most effect methods of cutting carbon emissions, identified in a pilot in Star’s managed operator pubs last year.
28 different measures will be used, ranging from right sizing cellars and insulation to motion sensor lighting and fridge managers. The measures will be tailored to each pub to reduce energy usage by 15% on average.
Star will further spend £200,000 on trials in 2023 to test technologies such as electric kitchens, solar panels, cellar heat recovery, and heat pumps.
All equipment and measures must pass a desktop evaluation before being trialled in Star’s managed operator sites, where the company has responsibility for utilities and can therefore assess the impact of any changes.
A Sustainability Cabinet of representatives from departments across Star Pubs & Bars will lead the implementation of the company’s sustainability ambitions as well as the annual evaluation of progress.
Says Chris Sladen, Star Pubs & Bars’ Head of Property: “Sustainability is a priority for our business – we can’t win in a world that’s losing. The enormity and complexity of this programme cannot be overestimated; it spans nearly two decades, covers 2,400 unique buildings of all types, sizes and ages, and involves new technologies.
“We have robust and realistic ambitions embedded in our business that we’re confident will deliver. It will also bring a multitude of benefits to our licensees, decreasing their energy bills and helping them to develop their own sustainability credentials with their customers.”
