A brewery is turning a quiet pint into a chance to go green.
St Austell Brewery has launched biodegradable, plantable beer mats embedded with seeds as part of its latest impact report, giving pub-goers a chance to take part in its environmental mission with every drink.
The mats double as a communication tool, featuring QR codes that allow pub-goers to explore St Austell Brewery’s sustainability initiatives across its breweries, pubs and drinks wholesale operation.
Emily Coon, sustainability manager at St Austell Brewery, said: "We’re proud of the progress we’re making across our business, but for us this has always been about bringing people with us on the journey.
"Our pubs are where we connect with more people than anywhere else, so we wanted to create a simple and accessible way for guests to access our impact report and share the progress happening behind the scenes as well as our future ambitions.
"The plantable beer mats are a small idea, but they represent a bigger mindset – thinking differently about waste, creating moments for conversation, and making sustainability feel part of everyday experiences rather than something distant or abstract."
The brewery has made significant strides in its environmental efforts across its 45 managed pubs, all of which now run on 100 per cent renewable electricity.
Total waste has dropped by 49 per cent since 2023, and general waste is down by up to 40 per cent year-on-year.
Recycling rates have doubled, with all food waste diverted from general waste streams.
Water conservation has also improved, with waterless urinals installed during refurbishments now saving up to 100,000 litres per pub each year.
Improvements at the company’s breweries in Cornwall and Warmley have further reduced water use in the production of beers such as Proper Job, Tribute, and Korev.
St Austell Brewery’s efforts were recognised last month, when it was named Best Sustainable Pub Company in the UK at the Publican Awards.
The company has pledged to reach net zero ahead of the UK’s 2050 target.
Environmental action is just one part of its broader impact, with more than £93,000 raised for charities and South West causes in 2025, including its Charity of the Year, Children’s Hospice South West.
The plantable beer mats will appear in pubs across the South West from next week.
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