Beer & A Better World - Anheuser-Busch InBev

60 | Global Citizenship Report 2008-2009
More than 800 people saw firsthand the
impact that employee and public engagement
in environmental programs can have.
We are working with the CLTA to develop a
number of water-related programs that raise
awareness and promote volunteerism among
our employees and the community.
We believe that our approach can be summed
up in one word — responsibility. With our exciting
initiative with the CLTA, we continue to strive
to make today’s decisions with our eyes on
the future.
Thames river Clean up
The Thames is a major river in Ontario that runs
through London, the birthplace of Labatt and
the site of one of our major breweries. Labatt is a
major sponsor of the annual Thames River Clean
Up which targets more than 200 kms. of the river
and tributaries.
On April 18, 2009 dozens of employees, family
and friends from Labatt’s London national office
and hometown brewery highlighted the impact
of personal involvement in a company-wide
commitment to the 10th Annual Thames River
Clean Up.
More than one metric ton of debris — including
metal, old bicycles, tires and shopping carts —
was removed from the shoreline of the Thames
River behind the London plant. Approximately
50 volunteer employees and their friends and
families returned the stretch of path behind
the plant to its natural state and prepared it for
everyone in the community to enjoy. The path
is popular with London residents, who enjoy
walking and riding along the Thames River
throughout the year.
For six years, employee participation in the
Thames River Clean Up has been a prominent
example of the kind of environmentally beneficial
work volunteers can accomplish.
World environment Day —
national awareness — june 5, 2009
All of Labatt’s World Environment Day (WED)
activities reflected on the nationally driven
theme, What Have You Done for Your Planet
Lately — Share Your Story! The objectives of
the program were to:
• Boost awareness of WED and climate change.
• Promote Labatt’s partnership with the
Canadian Land Trust Alliance.
• Actively engage and involve employees
and their families.
• Educate and inspire others through
meaningful action.
• Recognize and celebrate employees’ efforts
toward creating a Better World.
To promote employee awareness and participation,
Labatt showcased the company’s environmental
initiatives and launched an extensive
internal communication effort, developing a
series of stories to educate our employees
across the country.
We also conducted three contests to encourage
WED involvement by employees and their families.
They included an art contest for children, a
community initiative contest for parents, and a
challenge for employees to reduce their carbon
footprint on World Environment Day by using
a more fuel-efficient way to get to work and
back. In addition to encouraging involvement
among our 3,000 employees, our WED efforts
reinforced our company’s commitment to the
environment, to energy and water conservation
as a major company priority.
Another ambitious project undertaken by
Labatt employees for WED was the Better
World Employee and Family Day at our Montreal
brewery. The brewery opened its door for the
first time in more than 10 years to all employees
and their families for a brewery tour and an environmentally
friendly barbecue. What made this
employee family day unique was that it focused
entirely on the brewery’s environmental efforts
and successes. Throughout the tour, people were
provided with quick facts about how the brewery
constantly looks for ways to reduce its carbon
footprint and how the public can benefit from our
Employees signing in visitors at
the Labatt brewery in Montreal as
part of an event celebrating World
Environment Day.