Water
We would like to secure the availability of water and reduce its use. Read more about our SCSR report.
Sustainability Overview 2021Reducing and securing water consumption
Susan Ladrak
Manager Engineering
"Our water goals are ambitious. Since 2005 we have achieved water reduction of 33%. In 2020 our ambitions is to achieve a reduction of 36% compared to 2005."
Reducing water consumption and ensuring its continued availability
Our ambition is to produce more beer with even less water. We always want to improve and strive to cut back the amount of water we use per hectolitre of beer. At the same time, we will continue to work towards guaranteeing the availability of high-quality water now and in the future.
Objective
Beer/water efficiency 3.27 hl/hl
Result
Achieved result in 2021 3.81 hl/hl. The main causes of this higher consumption is the lower packaged volume versus plan and less filling of the most water and energy efficient beer (tank beer and kegs).
Objective
Optimising the water consumption of the cooling system
Result
Partially implemented; will be picked up again after installation and passivation of condensers in 2022. Research into the reuse of this cooling water from condensers is ongoing.
Result
Based on the results of the water risk assessment performed, the plan for securing the brewery's water availability has been adjusted.
The important projects for 2022 are the optimal switching of the various sources and carrying out a pilot test for the reuse of the treated effluent as process water.
Objective
Optimising the water consumption of bottle rinsers
Result
By implementing various improvements to the bottle rinsing machines, the water consumption has been reduced. In parallel, we have introduced so-called short interval control, with which we continuously monitor the water consumption of the rinsing machines in order to be able to quickly make adjustments in the event of deviations and to continue producing to standard.
Objective
Study into water reduction opportunities across the brewery with the University of Twente
Result
Two extensive analyses of the various water consumers within the brewery were carried out in collaboration with the University of Twente. Based on these studies, various improvement initiatives were detailed and already partly implemented.
Objective
Modeling water availability sources in the future
Result
In collaboration with Antea, a detailed groundwater model was drawn up that models the water availability of the Grolsch wells now and in the future. Various scenarios for the future have been worked out. Based on this outcome, the Grolsch roadmap 2022-2025 for reduction of water risk (guaranteeing water availability) was adjusted with new projects for the coming years.
Objective
Testing membrane-based water treatment
Result
In cooperation with NXfiltration an extensive test has been conducted for the upgrading of spring water to brewing water quality. During 4 months several membranes have been tested in a pilot installation. The insights obtained will be used in the design of future source water treatment installations.
Optimization of the cooling tower of the CO2 installation (0.01 hl/hl).
OBJECTIVES 2022
- Optimization water consumption cooling installation
- Study into different possibilities for water reuse
- Start test reprocessing of effluent into process water
- Optimization water consumption crate washers
- CIP optimization brewery wide
Activities
Short Interval Control Bottle Rinsers
Within the Packaging Department, we have implemented short interval control for the larger consumers - our bottle rinsing machines. The water consumption of these machines is registered on an hourly basis. Deviations from the target are clearly visible. Because standards including quick fix routines are available, adjustments can be made quickly.
Sustainable way of thinking
Various initiatives have been set in motion within our production departments to ensure that a sustainable way of thinking is or becomes the standard with all colleagues. One example is the daily discussing of water and energy reduction at filling line/area level, so that deviations can be spotted more quickly and actions can be taken to solve the problem quickly. There is also a weekly consultation between our sustainability engineers and our operators to further develop and implement ideas and initiatives from the teams, resulting in the realization of sustainable savings. Brainstorming sessions have in addition been held with all operators, technicians and team leaders from packaging, in order to arrive at a good reduction plan for 2021 (and beyond).
Optimalization vacuum pumps
By optimizing the settings of our vacuum pumps in the filling lines, we have achieved a significant reduction on several filling lines. In 2021, after overhauling the fillers, we will optimize this further.
Optimalization of degassed water production
Get basics right packaging
Our Packaging department works with the ‘get basics right’ programme. In recent years, we have focused on 5S audits, among other things, as well as making sure that all required follow-up actions are taken quickly in order to resolve any issues as quickly as possible, reducing unnecessary water use.
