SABMiller - Zambian Breweries Ltd

SABMiller’s global sustainable development principles state that their ability to grow profitably is connected with the health and prosperity of the societies in which they operate. The application of these principles has resulted in sustained improvements in the quality of life for Zambians through job creation and establishing long-term business relationships with micro, small and medium enterprises.

The programme focuses on three areas: developing the agricultural sector; limiting their impact on the environment; and preventing the spread of HIV/Aids – all of which can be measured against the aspirations of the millennium development goals.

ZBL believe that the area in which they will continue to make the most sustainable impact on poverty is Zambia’s agricultural sector. Their support for initiatives, involving locally grown crops and small-scale farmers and their policy of purchasing, both products and services locally, has resulted in small local businesses being set up to meet their requirements.

Their HIV/AIDS policy is recognised as one of the strongest in the country. HIV/AIDS remains one of the biggest risks to their business, given its high prevalence among those individuals who form part of their supply and distribution chains. They have recently started a programme to promote awareness and understanding of the disease beyond the workplace.

Operating in an environmentally responsible way is a priority to ZBL as the largest recycler in Zambia. Bottles are re-used between 10 and 25 times during their life-cycle after which they are recycled, and of the 13 million plastic crates a year they use each year only 100 000 of these are being used for the first time. This has provided opportunities for small local recycling businesses to develop.