Varun Beverages Limited reports 2x water replenishment rate

Varun Beverages Limited, referred to as VBL, reports a 2x water replenishment ratio while using half of recharged water for manufacturing. Its 2025 disclosures also show 100% plastic-waste recycling, a 21% renewable-energy mix and water consumption of 1.50 per litre of beverage, against a 2030 target of 1.40.

How much water does VBL replenish and use?

VBL reports a 2x water replenishment ratio and says it uses only half of the water it recharges for manufacturing. Its programme includes maintenance of more than 300 water bodies, comprising ponds and check dams, to increase groundwater levels, and the presentation assigns VBL a CDP water rating of A-.

The 2x statement describes the relationship between recharge and manufacturing use, but VBL does not disclose litres recharged, litres withdrawn or the geographical distribution of its 300-plus water bodies. The disclosed comparison is that manufacturing uses one-half of the water VBL recharges, rather than a plant-by-plant water balance.

VBL also reports more than 150 process improvements under its water-usage reduction programme. The presentation does not identify the individual improvements or allocate the 21% reduction in water consumed per litre among equipment changes, production processes and new facilities.

Has VBL reduced water used per litre of beverage?

VBL reduced water consumed per litre of beverage produced to 1.50 in 2025 from 1.89 in 2021, a stated 21% reduction. VBL has set a 2030 target of 1.40, meaning the reported 2025 measure remains 0.10 above that target.

The annual series shows the largest reported fall occurred between 2021 and 2022, when water consumed per litre declined by 0.19. It then fell by 0.13 in 2023, by 0.01 in 2024 and by 0.06 in 2025, taking the measure from 1.89 to 1.50 over four years.

VBL says its steady-state water-use ratio was 1.54 in 2023 and 1.50 in 2024. It attributes the difference between those steady-state figures and the reported annual measures of 1.57 and 1.56 to the stabilisation of two new greenfield plants in 2023 and three new greenfield plants in 2024.

Did VBL recycle all of its plastic waste in 2025?

VBL reports 100% plastic-waste recycling in 2025, compared with 88% in 2024 and 70% in 2021. The company says the 2025 result was ahead of EPR regulations, although the presentation does not specify the applicable regulatory percentage or the methodology used to measure the result.

The reported recycling rate increased by 30 percentage points between 2021 and 2025. The single largest annual increase was 12 percentage points between 2024 and 2025, after increases of 10 percentage points in 2022, six percentage points in 2023 and two percentage points in 2024.

VBL identifies recycled polyethylene terephthalate, or rPET, packaging as part of its circular-economy work. Pepsi Zero Sugar and Sting energy use rPET packaging, and VBL says it used about 22,000 metric tonnes of rPET in 2025.

VBL has a 2030 plan for a 50% rPET mix in packaging and refers to an INDORAMA joint venture. The presentation does not quantify its current company-wide rPET share, separate recycled content by package or market, or state output from the joint venture, leaving the 50% target distinct from the reported 100% plastic-waste recycling rate.

How is VBL increasing renewable energy?

VBL increased its renewable-energy mix to 21% in 2025 from 7% in 2021 and targets 30% by 2030. Its disclosed sources are rooftop solar, captive-power solutions and windmills, while renewable electricity consumption reached 108 million kilowatt-hours in 2025 versus 18 million kilowatt-hours in 2021.

The renewable electricity total increased by 90 million kilowatt-hours between 2021 and 2025, while the mix rose by 14 percentage points. In the most recent year, renewable electricity rose from 79 million kilowatt-hours and a 16% mix in 2024 to 108 million kilowatt-hours and a 21% mix in 2025.

VBL needs a further nine percentage points in renewable-energy mix to reach its stated 30% target by 2030. The presentation also lists a CDP Climate rating of A- and a CDP Supplier Engagement Assessment rating of A.

VBL lists more than 2,000 electric vehicles in trade for last-mile use, more than 500,000 plantations since 2020 and R290 efficient visi coolers for all new coolers starting in 2023. It also states a net-zero target for 2050, but these slides do not provide annual emissions figures or an interim emissions-reduction target.

Conclusion

VBL’s 2025 sustainability disclosures combine a 2x water replenishment ratio, water consumption of 1.50 per litre of beverage, 100% plastic-waste recycling and a 21% renewable-energy mix. Since 2021, water consumed per litre has fallen from 1.89 to 1.50, plastic-waste recycling has risen from 70% to 100%, and renewable electricity has increased from 18 million to 108 million kilowatt-hours.

The next disclosed milestones are water consumption of 1.40 per litre, a 30% renewable-energy mix and a 50% rPET packaging mix by 2030, followed by net zero by 2050. Progress toward those plans will depend on whether VBL provides further underlying water volumes, recycling measurement details, current rPET share and emissions data.