Brewdog has become the world’s first international beer business to become carbon negative and the Scottish multinational brewery and pub chain announced that in Uncommon Brewdog style.

Fuck You C02. @BrewDog is now carbon negative & this means we take twice as much carbon out of the air as we emit.

Detailed plan here: https://t.co/u9Le8fyGyd

We are also running this advert to help drive awareness of the climate crisis we are all facing. #BrewDogTomorrow pic.twitter.com/qDVCIpWbrf

— James Watt (@BrewDogJames) August 24, 2020

It also outlined how it had achieved it a little more subtly.

So happy that @BrewDog is now carbon negative.

This means we take twice the carbon out of the air each year that we emit. And we are going to do it with our own 2,000 acre BrewDog Forest!

We worked on this plan with @MikeBernersLee https://t.co/5qm79ADYx5#BrewDogTomorrow pic.twitter.com/haxOJqJM9G

— James Watt (@BrewDogJames) August 22, 2020

The company’s carbon neutral status is the result of a £30 million 24-month investment plan, the main element being its purchase of a 2,050 acre (830 hectare) forest in the Scottish Highlands, where it will plant one million trees. The forest will feature 1,500 acres of broadleaf native woodlands and an ecosystem that complies with the Woodland Carbon Code accreditation program. Brewdog will also restore 650 acres of peatland over the next few years, working with the Peatland Code to ensure promised emissions savings are delivered.

Brewdog will source 100% wind power, produce biomethane using by-products from its breweries, install carbon capture technologies and switch to a 100% electric fleet.

It will host a sustainable campsite where it will hold events for the general public and partnerships with The Woodland Trust, Carbon Neutral, Ribble Rivers Trust, and the Nature Conservancy of Canada will provide the company independently accredited carbon offsets as it works to secure certification for its own project.

Meanwhile, BrewDog Australia is introducing a host of green infrastructure projects and sustainability initiatives, including the introduction of solar-panels, a partnership Carbon Neutral’s Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Project to offset all excess C02 emissions, and the creation of a sustainable drive-thru.

Over the past few months, BrewDog has been working closely with lead scientific advisor, Professor Mike Berners-Lee, and his team at Small World Consulting. Berners-Lee is one of the world’s leading experts in carbon foot-printing and sustainability and has led the process of calculating BrewDog’s carbon footprint and been pivotal in the design of its carbon removal plan. The partnership has helped to direct over AUD $55m (£30m) of investment into green infrastructure to support the business in reducing carbon emissions.

James Watt, co-founder of BrewDog commented, “Our Carbon. Our Problem. So, we are going to fix it ourselves. Huge change is needed right now, and we want to be a catalyst for that change in our industry and beyond. We fully acknowledge that we are a long way from perfect. However, we are determined to rapidly and fundamentally change everything as we work hard to ensure we have a positive impact on the planet.”

Today on National Dog Day, BrewDog has also announced DogKeeper, a national ‘beer scheme’ offering free beer to dog-loving Aussies and their four-legged friends who have supported them through the pandemic. Celebrating BrewDog’s first headliner beers brewed on Australian soil, the DogKeeper packages will be given to 50 dog-loving Aussies and will be available to buy from BrewDog’s new national e-commerce store www.brewdog.com/au from Monday August 31.

The DogKeeper package includes the full Aussie-brewed headliner range including the beer that started BrewDog’s craft beer revolution, Punk IPA, Hazy Jane New England IPA, Elvis Juice Grapefruit Infused IPA, a West Coast classic Pale Ale, and a special Subwoofer IPA that can be lapped up by wo/man’s best friend.

To be eligible for DogKeeper, dog-owning, craft-beer devotees simply need to upload a photo of themselves and their dog to Instagram by September 2 and explain how their dog has helped them through the pandemic (tagging #BrewDogKeeper and @brewdogau). 50 Aussies will be chosen by BrewDog to qualify for DogKeeper and receive the free beer scheme. The DogKeeper packages will also be available to buy from the new e-commerce store, making it the perfect gift to send a (furry) friend in need.