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Asahi Lifestyle Beverages

OVERALL

Owned
JPN
Rating
Praises, some criticism

Drinks manufacturer

Asahi Lifestyle Beverages (formerly Schweppes Australia) is the non-alcohol division of the Asahi Beverages Group. Asahi bought Schweppes Australia in 2009.

Company Ownership

Asahi Lifestyle Beverages   AUS     website   email   facebook   
  Asahi Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd   
   owns 100% of Asahi Lifestyle Beverages  
AUS     website   email      

Holding company

Asahi Beverages formed in 2014 when the company announced plans to integrate the operations of Schweppes Australia, Asahi Premium Beverages and Independent Liquor NZ. Asahi acquired Schweppes in 2009, and Independent Liquor, Charlie's Group, and the juice and water business of Australia's P&N Beverages in 2011. Bought Carlton & United Breweries in 2020.

      Asahi Group Holdings Ltd   
       owns 100% of Asahi Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd  
JPN     website   email      

Drinks, especially alcoholic

Japan's largest brewer, Asahi also has a large market share in many European countries. Asahi has become a major player in Australasia after several acquisitions including Schweppes Australia in 2009, NZ's Independent Liquor and Charlie's Group in 2011, and Carlton & United Breweries in 2020.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Asahi Lifestyle Beverages
No assessment data currently available for Asahi Lifestyle Beverages
Asahi Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd
Environment 3/5 for packaging performance
This company received a packaging performance level of 3 (Advanced) in its 2022 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO (2022)
Environment Water mining in Australia
Victorian farmer Tim Carey successfully applied to change the source of 19 million litres of his existing licence from surface water to groundwater, and from agricultural to commercial purposes. This allowed him to truck the water to a bottling plant run by Mountain H2O, owned by Asahi. In 2018 residents of Stanley, Victoria, lost a four-year court battle to stop the farmer bottling local groundwater for Asahi. The residents were left with a A$90,000 bill for legal costs.
Source: The Conversation (2018)
Business Ethics Opposing a CDS
In 2013 Coca-Cola Amatil, Schweppes Australia (part of Asahi Beverages) and Lion Pty Ltd filed proceedings in the Federal Court challenging the legal validity of the Northern Territory's Container Deposit Scheme (CDS). Other large bottlers like Fosters and Diageo have not joined the court case. A CDS has been proven worldwide to be the best way to increase collection and recycling. The Boomerang Alliance estimates a CDS would increase recovery by 80%.
Source: news article (2013)
Environment Organic products
Phoenix Organics soft drinks and juices are certified organic by BioGro, and Mountain Goat beer has an organic option. However these only represent a tiny fraction of this company's total beverage sales.
Source: ACO (2022)
Environment Renewable energy use
Greenpeace's Reenergise campaign ranks Australia's biggest electricity using companies on their commitments and actions regarding renewable energy use. This company has committed to powering their operations by 100% renewable electricity by 2030, and invested in on-site solar. However they have not signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy power from a wind or solar project.
Source: Greenpeace (2021)
Business Ethics Responsibility claims
This company has responsibility claims on its website under the headings environment, beverages & health, and people & society.
Source: company website (2020)
Social Alcohol - direct involvement
Directly involved in the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcohol as a core business.
Source: company website (2020)
Asahi Group Holdings Ltd
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of A
In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of A.
Source: CDP (2022)
Social CDP Water Security Score of A-
In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security Score of A-.
Source: CDP (2022)
Environment Supply chain practices in China
This company received a score of 10.3/100 (retrieved 10-Oct-2020) in the Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI), a system for evaluating supply chain practices in China, particularly in regards to environmental management and water pollution. Scores are calculated using government compliance data, online monitoring data, and third-party environmental audits, as well as trends in the environmental performance of factories in the company's supply chains.
Source: IPE (2020)
Social 19.8% in Human Rights Benchmark
The 2022 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 127 companies in the food and agriculture, ICT and automotive manufacturing sectors on their human rights performance. This company received a score of 19.8%. The overall average score was a disappointing 17.3% and the highest score was 50.3%.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2022)
Business Ethics 38/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 38/100 in the Beverages category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 18 Nov 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2022)
Environment Climate action commitments
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target.
Source: We Mean Business (2021)
Environment FSC certification
This company holds Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody Certification, and sells products certified as FSC 100%.
Source: FSC (2017)
Environment FSC certification
In Nov 2011 Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) recertified Asahi's Shobara and Miyoshi forests in Japan to the Forest Stewardship Council's standard for responsible forest management. Asahi bought the forested properties during World War II. They have been FSC certified since 2001.
Source: SCS (2011)
Social IARD member
This company is a member of the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to reducing harmful drinking and promoting understanding of responsible drinking. IARD is affiliated with the United Nations.
Source: IARD (2021)
Business Ethics Sustainable Business Activities
Activities include reducing CO2 emissions, FSC certified forest management, and donations to environmental protection schemes.
Source: Japan for Sustainability (2010)
Business Ethics UN Global Compact participant
The United Nations Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of 10 values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. However it's non-binding nature has been widely criticised, and many signatory corporations continue to violate the Compact's values.
Source: UN Global Compact (2020)
Environment High-biomass sugarcane
Asahi Breweries is developing 'high-biomass sugarcane' or 'Monster Cane', designed to produce ethanol without sacrificing sugar output. Could be seen as a positive as ethanol is carbon-neutral with CO2 released in the combustion of the fuel offset by the CO2 captured by plants through photosynthesis. Critics also say ethanol is no solution to global warming if massive inputs of fossil fuels are required to grow the crops and power the facilities used to produce ethanol and land is taken from suppling crops for food and feed.
Source: Impact Lab article (2006)
Social Alcohol - direct involvement
Directly involved in the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcohol as a core business.
Source: company website (2020)
Business Ethics 34.5% in Food and Agriculture Benchmark
The 2021 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #61/350, with a total score of 34.5/100.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2021)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Wholly-owned subsidiary
Subsidiaries Better Drinks Co Ltd 

Beverages manufacturer

Established in New Zealand as Charlie's in 1999 and floated on the NZ Stock Exchange in July 2005. Bought Phoenix Organics in Dec 2005. Operates mainly in Australia and New Zealand. Bought by Asahi in 2011 and renamed Better Drinks Co in 2013.


P&N Beverages Australia Pty Ltd 

Beverage Manufacturing

After the ACCC opposed an earlier acquisition proposal, Asahi revised its proposal in mid-2011 to acquire P&N and simultaneously divest P&N's soft drink, cordial and energy drink business to Tru Blu Beverages - a newly created company owned by P&N's Managing Director, Peter Brooks. Asahi retained P&N's bottled water and fruit juice business which has been integrated into Schweppes Australia.

Contact Details

Address Australia
Freecall 1800 244 054
Website www.asahilifestylebeverages.com.au

Products / Brands


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