Anheuser-Busch takes steps to shift more than 180 trucks to renewable natural gas

With a sharp focus on its ongoing commitment to reducing carbon emissions and the reduction of carbon emissions, St. Louis, Mo.-based global beer brewing giant Anheuser Busch (A-B) announced earlier this month that it has transitioned more than 180 trucks—or around 30% of its total dedicated fleets, in Houston and St. Louis—over to Renewable Natural Gas (RNG).

This is not the first time A-B has made inroads on this front, as in 2014 and 2015 the company converted 160 diesel-fueled trucks, in Houston and St. Louis, over to fleets that are powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) engines. And company officials said that as part of A-B’s goal to reduce carbon emissions across its value chain by 25% in 2025, it will expand this fleet and make technology-based investments in order to shift over to RNG.

What’s more, A-B added that the Houston and St. Louis fleets are pegged to drive more than 8.5 million miles each year, noting that through the transition to RNG, from American Natural Gas and U.S. Gain, it is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 70%, when compared to conventional diesel, which is the equivalent of removing more than 66 thousand passenger cars off the roads—or more than 8 million trees being planted.  

“At Anheuser-Busch, sustainability is not just related to our business, it is our business. Beer is a natural product and a healthy environment is a key ingredient in the brewing process,” said Angie Slaughter, Vice President of Sustainability, Logistics, SVC & Capabilities Procurement at Anheuser-Busch, in an interview. “That’s why, we are committed to protecting the environment across our entire supply chain through our 2025 Sustainability Goals. These goals include a specific goal on carbon reduction with a commitment to reducing carbon emissions across our value chain by 25% by 2025. The transport industry is not only one that is prime for innovative carbon-reduction solutions and but the sector also accounts for roughly 10% of our carbon footprint—making it a key sustainability priority. By transitioning to Renewable Natural Gas, we expect to reduce our emissions by more than 70% compared to conventional diesel helping us take another step toward achieving this goal.”

When asked what the biggest benefits of this news are for A-B customers and suppliers, Slaughter explained that the company strives for world-class operational excellence across its operations and its value chain.

“And that translates into reduced emissions, improved driver experiences, all the way down the line,” she said. “Ultimately what we want is our happy customers finding their favorite beers exactly where they’re supposed to be with the confidence that we have done our part to help deliver it in the most sustainable way possible.”

A-B added that it placed an order from Agility Fuel Solutions, a provider of clean fuel solutions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, to expand its existing CNG fleet with more than 180 new Class 8 trucks with Agility’s ProCab 175 CNG Fuel Systems clean fuel technology.  

Implementing sustainable technology in its fleet has been a key focus for Anheuser-Busch since the launch of its sustainability goals in 2018, the company said, while also noting that through partnerships with cutting-edge manufacturers as well as digital freight providers, A-B plans to convert its entire long-haul dedicated fleet to renewable energy-powered trucks by 2025 and harness data and analytics to reduce empty miles within its routes.