Manufacturing is a necessary component of the world economy. But as everyone is fully aware, manufacturing has one undesirable outcome; a byproduct that continues to grow in both volume and environmental importance. I’m referring, of course, to waste and breweries are not immune to this problem. However, there are many steps a brewery can take to get emissions under control and organizations such as The Carling Partnership are working diligently toward a waste- reduced and even zero emissions future for breweries and related industries.
Waste Reduction
Step one in the waste- reducing strategy is an obvious one and it’s something many breweries are already doing. One common waste product for any brewing operation is spent grain, much of which ends up buried in a local landfill. The use of a landfill costs money, both in transportation costs and in the actual transfer of the waste directly into the open space. This is one of the simplest problems to eliminate and it can be accomplished by selling or giving the spent grain and hops to local farmers for use as livestock feed. According to data from The Carling Partnership, this action, alone, can save a brewery $10,000 or more annually. Often, the farmers will voluntarily pick up the spent grain from your brewery, eliminating transportation costs completely. Not only will a brewery save money by doing this, it will also help the environment in the process, making it a win- win for everyone.
When Possible, Recycle
We all know the importance of recycling and purchasing recycled goods. Breweries are often awash in materials that make perfect candidates for recycling. Everything from cardboard to paper to wood to glass and metal can be recycled. Much of the raw materials packaging entering a brewery is made of one of these or some other recycled material so it makes sense to hand the waste over to a recycling company rather than send it to a traditional landfill. In addition, some communities provide tax incentives to recycle and let’s not forget the public goodwill achieved when recycling is part of daily business.
If there are no recycling companies nearby, there are still steps a brewery can take to reduce this type of waste. Look for companies that presently have waste that could be useful to your brewery, and vice versa, then trade back and forth. For example, you might be in need of bubble wrap to protect certain products and there could be a local business that receives goods packaged in bubble wrap every day. Rather than have the other business toss the bubble wrap in the trash, your brewery could stop by and pick it up.
If your brewery is presently using materials that cannot be recycled, try to look for substitutes. A prime example is Styrofoam. This is one of the least environmentally- friendly products available and eliminating it from a brewery’s operation should be an important goal. When possible, replace Styrofoam with cardboard or some other recyclable product. It will go far in reducing brewery emissions and moving closer to your zero waste goals.
Water, Water Everywhere
Water is, of course, a vital component of the brewing process and one for which there is no substitute. It often takes 15 gallons or more of water to brew one gallon of beer so water monitoring and conservation is critical.
There is no way to eliminate water, but there are measures a brewery can take to use water in the most efficient manner possible. One way is by re- using water, whenever possible. Another option is to monitor water usage in other areas, like the water used for cleaning. Replacing ordinary faucets with motion- detecting units that dispense water only when necessary is one way to cut back on water usage. Another way is to restrict water usage for cleaning and other activities through the use of timers. These small changes can add up to significant savings over time.
Add More Plants and Trees
Some of the most attractive breweries I have ever visited were appealing to the eye for one important reason: Greenery. Adding additional trees and other plants on the outside of a brewery not only improves its appearance, it also helps protect the environment because trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide. Often, the interior of a brewery can benefit from plants as well, provided they are situated in the right areas, like the tap rooms, offices, etc. Plants act as a natural filtration for the air and they add greatly to the appearance of most any interior space.
Aim for Zero Emissions
It isn’t practical for every brewery to achieve zero emissions, but this should be the ultimate goal. Saving money on transportations and landfills makes financial sense, so selling or giving spent grain to local farmers should be a top priority. Recycling is another obvious way that a brewery can help strive for zero emissions and it costs little or nothing to implement procedures that move a brewery in this direction. Installing solar panels for electricity use would be another great way to go green, but this can be costly and often out of the financial reach of most small businesses.
Waste is a serious and growing problem. Landfills continue to expand in size and the contents of these landfills often include materials that could be recycled. Fresh, clean water is also declining in abundance and breweries use a good deal of water. It is important that breweries do what they can to reduce waste, conserve resources, and move toward a zero emissions goal. As the advice above demonstrates, even a small business can implement important measures to cut waste and improve conservation. Don’t wait for other businesses to step up- take the initiative and start a waste reduction plan today. The future of the planet and its inhabitants depends on it.
Leave a Reply