Wastewater Treatment

Denmark Brewery Selected as Test Site for Water Recycling Plant 

A brewery in Denmark was selected as a test site for Carlsberg’s Integrated Supply Chain’s first total water recycling plant

June 30, 2020
2 min read

The Fredericia brewery was selected as a test site for Carlsberg’s Integrated Supply Chain’s first total water recycling plant. 

Carlsberg recently celebrated a topping-out ceremony on the location of the water recycling plant, according to the brewery. This will make the brewery the first in the world to virtually eliminate water waste.

The new water recycling technology being implemented in the brewery allows for the recycling of almost 90% of all process water, reducing water consumption by 50% in Fredericia. 

“Our focus has always been on optimizing resource management and water consumption reduction at the brewery in Fredericia has been an integral part of this drive,” said Arjun Bhowmik, VP, Production, Western Europe, Carlsberg Group. “Fredericia can, therefore, become an important learning platform for all our breweries, and that makes everyone involved in the project very proud,” 

The water recycling plant aims to reduce the average water consumption at the brewery from the current level of 2.9 hl of water/hl of beer to 1.4 hl of water/hl of beer, reported the press release. The new plant is also estimated to reduce the brewery’s energy consumption by 10% through its own biogas production and hot water recycling. 

This is part of Carlsberg’s sustainability program, Together Towards ZERO

The program has four goals:

  • ZERO carbon footprint
  • ZERO water waste
  • ZERO irresponsible drinking;
  • And a ZERO accidents culture. 

The total water recycling plant is a partnership project initiated through the public-private partnership the Danish partnership for Resource and water-efficient Industrial food Production (DRIP). 

Peter Haahr Nielsen, managing director, Carlsberg Denmark, hosted the topping-out ceremony together with several of the partners.

“Our ambition in the government is clear: We want to make Denmark a green and sustainable pioneer country, and one of the things that means a lot to me is how we make more green research work in society. Here in Fredericia, you have done it. Across business, government, and researchers. With the new plant, you are well on your way to creating the first brewery in the world that eliminates water waste, and I am happy to see how far you have come,” said Minister for Higher Education and Science Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen.

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Cristina Tuser

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