The Stiegl brewery has been brewing beer in Salzburg since 1492. Today, their beer bears the “Slow Brewing” seal of quality for fulfilling one of the best international quality standards. Despite looking back on over 525 years of successful history, the private brewery is not resting on its laurels. This shows in the countless sustainability projects the company is involved in, which belong to the company philosophy like hops and malt to the Stiegl beer.
All areas of the company employ a holistic approach: just a few examples are utilization of an increased amount of raw materials from certified organic farming; cultivation of ancient grain varieties on the Stiegl estate Wildshut to maintain biological diversity and for brewing exclusive beers; and the manufacture of the Stiegl reusable beer crates made of 60% recycled plastic. All processes are constantly monitored in regard to their impact on the CO2 footprint of the brewery. With 232 grams of CO2 per liter of beer,* it is one of the lowest in the sector.
Zero emissions the alternative way
As a member of Austria’s Council for Sustainable Logistics (CNL), it was an easy decision for Stiegl to participate in the pioneering MAN eTruck field test. After all, cutting down on emissions is a particular focal point in the distribution sector. Apart from a fleet that has been consistently updated according to the Euro 6 standard, Stiegl has been relying on the currently one and only “zero emissions version” for deliveries close to the brewery for hundreds of years: two teams of horses.
One of them has been under the reins of coachman Herbert Schröder for almost 30 years. He and his carriage are a unique duo, and when the hooves of the black-dotted Tiger Noriker clatter along the historic cobbled streets, they attract surprised glances, not only from tourists. Recently, however, Herbert and the stallions Lenz and Lord have had to compete with a new rival when it comes to attention and zero emissions.