East African Breweries PLC (EABL) has released its 2025 Sustainability Report, and it shows that big companies can play a big role in protecting our planet. The report focuses on simple but important goals: cutting pollution, saving water, reducing waste, and supporting local communities. For ordinary people, this means cleaner air, safer water, less plastic waste, and more opportunities for farmers and young people across East Africa.
One of the biggest highlights is energy. Today, over 70 percent of EABL’s breweries run on renewable energy like biomass instead of relying on fossil fuels. This shift means less smoke, less carbon pollution, and a clear path toward the company’s bigger ambition of eventually being fully powered by clean energy. The benefit goes beyond the company itself — it contributes to slowing down climate change, which affects all of us.
Water, which is precious in East Africa, is another priority. Breweries need a lot of it, but EABL is working to cut down usage and recycle water in its factories. In 2025 alone, the company replenished more than 700 million litres of water into the environment, almost double its own target. That’s like pouring back thousands of swimming pools’ worth of water into rivers, wetlands, and communities. By 2026, EABL wants to give back more water than it uses in water-stressed areas, a goal that could make a real difference in regions facing drought.
Packaging is also changing. EABL is redesigning its bottles, cans, and plastics so they can be recycled, reused, or composted instead of ending up in dumpsites. The vision is a circular system where nothing goes to waste. This move not only reduces litter in our streets and rivers but also helps create a culture of recycling that benefits the wider community.
Beyond factories and packaging, EABL is investing in the people who supply its raw materials. The company works with thousands of smallholder farmers and is aiming to support at least 150,000 of them with training and resources. By encouraging climate-smart farming methods, farmers can adapt to unpredictable weather and improve their harvests. It’s a win-win: farmers earn more while EABL secures a steady supply of grain for its products.
The company’s sustainability approach also includes people in other ways. It has set goals to ensure more women take up leadership roles and that women and minority-owned businesses get better access to opportunities in its supply chain. It runs training programmes that give young people skills in business and hospitality, helping them earn a living and build futures. EABL is also promoting responsible drinking, reminding consumers that enjoying their products should go hand in hand with moderation.
What makes this report stand out is that sustainability isn’t treated as charity or just good public relations. Instead, it is built into the way EABL does business. Using clean energy lowers fuel costs. Saving water protects resources that factories and communities both need. Supporting farmers secures future supplies. Recycling packaging reduces waste problems that governments and residents often struggle with. Simply put, what’s good for the planet is also good for business.
Of course, there are challenges. Making sure all suppliers reduce their emissions is not easy. Building proper recycling systems in East Africa will take time. But the report shows that EABL is serious and moving in the right direction. The company knows that the world is changing, and the only way to thrive in the future is to adapt.
For the general public, the message is simple: sustainability is about real, everyday things. It means cleaner rivers, safer drinking water, less plastic waste, and stronger communities. EABL’s progress is proof that even a large company can choose greener ways of working. The steps already taken are a strong sign that change is possible — and that when businesses take responsibility, everyone benefits.
