Raising a glass to new waste-water facility

A new wastewater treatment plant has been unveiled at Samlesbury Brewery as part of Budweiser Brewing Group’s £7.8m investment to show its commitment to sustainability and innovation.

Company bosses say the state-of-the-art facility shows how the business continues to make progress on its global sustainability goals.

Business and trade minister Kate Dearden and Ribble Valley MP Maya Ellis joined other guests at the ‘Cheers to Nature’ event to cut the ribbon on the facility.

Samlesbury Brewery has been brewing since 1972 and employs around 500 people, making it a significant contributor to the North West economy.

This latest phase of investment from last year and a further £45m in 2021 reinforces the beer giant’s role as a long-term manufacturing hub and local employer and strengthening its environmental performance and regional impact.

 The firm says it has also expanded to increase brewing capacity.

 The new facility was built by Global Water and Energy and was designed in line with United Utilities’ requirements as part of the general capacity increase at the brewery.

 It means wastewater is pre-treated on‑site before entering the local sewer network.

 Yleni De Neve, sustainability director, Europe at AB InBev, said: “Our significant investments in Samlesbury underlines our long-term commitment to brewing great beer locally in a way that continues to protect the natural resources that businesses and communities depend on.

 “Water is the most important ingredient in our beers, and this new wastewater treatment facility will help us further reduce our environmental impact while supporting the resilience of our operations in the North West, and the UK more broadly.

“Building on decades of brewing heritage, this latest investment strengthens the site’s role in the community as a sustainable manufacturing hub and a positive force in the regional economy.”

Guests heard about the on-site water treatment process where organic material is broken down, which produces biogas as a by-product.

It is reinjected into the brewery’s energy system and used as renewable heat.

It means that the brewery has reduced gas consumption by between five and eight per cent and lowered CO2 (Scope 1) emissions.

This progress is complemented by brewing with 100 per cent operational renewable electricity in the UK in 2025.

Minister Kate Dearden, said: “The site plays an important role in supporting the pubs and hospitality sector, and this investment helps strengthen the long-term resilience of an industry that sits at the heart of communities across the UK.”

Maya Ellis added: “It was great to be back at the brewery and meet the team who have worked on this investment and hear from the team how wastewater treatment can lead to energy reduction.”

Uli Ombregt, chief executive of Global Water and Energy, said: “By turning wastewater into renewable energy, this project shows how industrial water treatment can create real environmental and operational value.”