"Sustainability is not only about operational efficiency enhancement– it is a platform for innovation, growth, and meaningful partnerships. Hong Kong provides the ecosystem to make this vision real."

As one of Asia's prominent beer companies, Budweiser APAC operates with a bold vision: to create a future with more cheers, not just in the glass, but across communities, value chains, and ecosystems. Their purpose‑led approach to sustainability is deeply embedded across operations, driving measurable progress in areas from climate action to water stewardship, circular packaging, and smart agriculture. While these are largely operational achievements, Hong Kong plays a strategic role in enabling regional collaboration and serving as a sourcing and investment hub that connects innovation with action.
 

​​​​​​​A pan-Asian footprint with Hong Kong as a regional connector

Budweiser APAC’s operations span approximately 50 breweries and works with more than 6,000 suppliers across the Chinese Mainland, South Korea, India, and Southeast Asia. Although production facilities are located outside Hong Kong, the city contributes through corporate oversight, stakeholder engagement, and innovation sourcing. With six carbon‑neutral breweries now in operation – including a global first in Wuhan – Budweiser APAC draws on Hong Kong's connectivity to engage with partners and explore scalable sustainability solutions.

From scope to substance: Focusing on sustainability reporting towards impact

Budweiser APAC's sustainability journey began with a clear recognition: the future of sustainability reporting lies not in the breadth of disclosures alone, but in the depth and integrity of the data behind them. As the company's listing and corporate base, Hong Kong provided access to a diverse ecosystem of investors, rating agencies, consultants, and peers. This environment also supports the ongoing refinement of Budweiser APAC’s sustainability strategy, helping translate emerging expectations around sustainability assurance and non‑financial disclosures into actionable plans across Asia.

Hong Kong: Driving Forward Sustainability Strategies

Hong Kong’s robust corporate governance, active financial markets, and broad professional services ecosystem provide Budweiser APAC with a valuable base to stay connected to the region’s evolving sustainability landscape.

The city hosts a wide range of sustainability‑focused events such as ReThink HK – Sustainable Business Forum & Expo and Hong Kong Green Week throughout the year. These platforms allow the company to share progress, gain insights, and remain responsive to emerging trends and stakeholder expectations. The city’s role as a convening point helps facilitate connections with thought leaders, regulators, and innovators shaping the sustainability agenda.

Rather than serving solely as a showcase venue, the blend of visibility, access, and co‑creation transforms Hong Kong into a launchpad for innovation and regional scaling. By benchmarking against global best practices, testing ideas with critical stakeholders, and refining solutions locally, sustainability initiatives emerging in Hong Kong can be effectively deployed across its diverse Asian markets, amplifying impact and accelerating progress toward its climate goals.

The innovation pipeline: Sourcing greentech from Asia to the world

Innovation is central to Budweiser APAC’s journey – and Hong Kong is a gateway to sourcing, validating, and scaling emerging technologies. The company’s 100+ Innovation Lab, a global incubator that is especially active in China, welcomes startups offering packaging solutions, clean energy systems, and efficiency tools among other low‑carbon solutions. Each year, a cohort of entrepreneurs is trained, mentored, and connected with industry leaders.

Following a five‑to‑six‑month programme, promising innovations are pitched on a demonstration day. Some are potentially integrated into Budweiser APAC’s supply chain or even invested in. This model has created a pipeline of Asia‑born greentech solutions with regional relevance. The presence of Hong Kong’s mature legal, financial, and IP support systems ensures that these ideas can be evaluated, protected, and scaled with confidence. For instance, Budweiser APAC’s collaboration with Vegatex – a sustainable materials start‑up specialising in plant‑based and upcycled alternatives to leather – led to the creation of BarleySkin, a vegan leather made from brewer’s spent grain. Co‑developed with Budweiser APAC, BarleySkin represents an innovative approach to circular design by transforming brewing by‑products into durable, fashion‑ready materials. The collaboration has already built a commercial track record in Hong Kong, where local lifestyle brand Doughnut has adopted BarleySkin in its retail bag collections. This case illustrates how an industry – start‑up partnership can both reduce waste and generate new value streams, while also reinforcing Budweiser APAC’s sustainability leadership in tangible, consumer‑facing ways.

Empowering a strong supply chain

One of Budweiser APAC’s most powerful contributions lies in its supplier engagement. Across its vast network – comprising both multinational suppliers and small local businesses – the company is promoting sustainability literacy and capacity‑building. Many SMEs may not be equipped with enough awareness or resources to track emissions, source low‑impact materials, or adopt cleaner technologies. Budweiser APAC is bridging that gap. Through training, knowledge sharing, and equipment support, the company helps suppliers map their carbon footprints and integrate sustainable practices into daily operations. This empowerment is essential, not just for reducing Scope 3 emissions, but for building long‑term partnerships that are aligned with shared goals.

Hong Kong contributes to this effort by functioning as a knowledge hub and an advisory centre. From its corporate hub, Budweiser APAC’s sustainability and procurement teams monitor evolving expectations, assess partner capabilities, and coordinate targeted interventions. The city's professional services ecosystem – including data validation, policy research, and benchmarking – supports these initiatives, complementing efforts across the region.

The road ahead

While Budweiser APAC is working towards its ambition of achieving a net zero carbon footprint across its value chain by 2040, it will focus on deepening supplier engagement, scaling climate‑smart technologies, and enhancing circular systems in the future. The company’s approach offers a model for others: a blend of bold ambition, operational pragmatism, and regional collaboration.

Budweiser APAC’s story is ultimately one of regional scale and local relevance – of global ambitions grounded in Asian realities. As more companies navigate the evolving landscape of climate, nature, and innovation, Budweiser APAC provides a compelling example of how sustainability leadership can be built not only through operations, but also through partnerships and value chain transformation.