For the craft beer Industry, breweries seeking green sustainability goals are good not only for the environment but also for their wallets.
Like many industries, the brewery industry is full of waste to get a final product out the door. Just in water alone, it takes between three to seven barrels of water to make one barrel of beer, according to a paper published by the University of Vermont.
To help combat the issue, the Brewers Association created a sustainability sub-committee in 2013. The goal was to help improve sustainability programs within breweries. Later the following year, they then conducted their first sustainability benchmarking study. This study measured energy and water use and addressed ways that breweries could reduce water and solid waste, as well as carbon dioxide. It was an immediate success.
With my many discussions with breweries across the east coast, I am of the belief that most breweries are now part of a growing sustainable movement. And this is across the country, not just in the New England craft beer community. Why? Because breweries are seeing how they can not only lower their environmental footprint but also their economical footprint, as well.
What could be holding breweries back from going after more sustainability programs?
However, because there is an immediate cost to most new sustainability programs there is always some reluctance. The brewery is never sure when they can recoup their money. For example, solar panels on your roof are great and have many known advantages. However, there is usually an immediate high upfront cost associated with them. And with an ROI guarantee that will come years down the road, many craft breweries don’t want to wait or gamble their liquid cash so quickly. Especially, after coming out of the tailspin of the pandemic.
I believe strongly in the benefit of going green and so does the chemical company I work for, ChemStation-Boston. I work every day with breweries just like you. Breweries looking for a lower footprint, but also a way to keep their wallet green as they start ramping up production after the COVID-19 restrictions and restaurant closings.
Tip: Opening up your pub or taproom soon? Here are my Top 4 Tips and FREE Resources to help you get going!
How do we do this? Well to start, the breweries we service have access to an innovative refillable tank program for chemicals. Eliminating the need for plastic buckets, barrels, and the problem of disposal. Need a chemical product in a barrel or bucket? No sweat, we can handle that! Plus once you are done with it, we will pick it up and dispose of it properly for you at no cost to you the next time our delivery trucks swing by.
How big of a problem is environmental chemical bucket disposal?
Sometimes I come across things I just can’t make up….Such as recently, I went to a brewery in New England that had over one-hundred 55-gallon empty barrels that they constantly moved around because they did not know what to do with them. Do you realize the square footage of that and the safety factor as well?
Another brewery I visited had to wait until they had 16 empties strapped to 4 pallets, triple washed, strapped, and shrunk-wrapped together before they could get a trucking company out to there to remove at their cost!
Look, I’ve been in the chemical industry for over 35 years. It is safe to say that I’ve seen a lot, but the incorrect chemical storage horrors never cease to amaze me. I sleep pretty well at night knowing my customers are getting their chemicals delivered by one of our trucks that either fill a tank that sits on its own spill containment or double-walled to reduce fears of spills.
Reducing Caustics and PH in WasteWater
Another way to help is reducing your concern about the Caustics you are using and the PH of your wastewater. I recommend the Powdered Brew Wash or PBW as we call it for short. PBW is a custom formulation of buffered alkaline detergent. This proven formula is more than an effective substitute for caustic soda cleaners. Because of its unique formulation of buffers and mild alkalis, it is safe on the skin! As well as, soft metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, and plastics. PBW uses active oxygen to penetrate carbon or protein soils and is not affected by hard water. The oxygen also helps in reducing B.O.D. and C.O.D. in wastewater, which is an added environmental sustainability benefit for breweries.
So, are you wondering about costs?
Well, I’ve got good news. The costs are less than our competitors because we price it out the same way you would price out draft beer versus package beer. When you have less packaging, less handling, and less inventory to move around it all makes sense. Our products are also manufactured locally on the east coast, not being shipped across the nation. Putting money back into the hands of our communities, while saving you money on shipping costs. Another great way breweries are hitting their sustainability goals.
Since we have our own trucks and the drivers are our employees, it helps minimize you asking for special requests and not getting them. Our drivers report to our Operations Manager and General Manager and are an asset as another set of eyes for possible pending problems that they might notice on scheduled delivery.
Still not sure green is in your future? You’ve got a partner to help your reach your brewery sustainability goals!
Finally, I’m not trying to convince you to purchase our better price, closer manufacturing facility, or custom formulations of products in a blog post. I know that one meeting with my charming face and personality will do that. OK, ok, that part is a joke!
However, as a chef turned chemical expert, the Craft Beer Industry is a passion of mine. I know that within one visit, I’ll be able to address your cleaning, sanitizing, and training needs better than your current program. How? I’ve got 35+ years of real-world knowledge in the sanitation and chemical sector. Real advice that actually pays off for you.
Are you ready to see just how good going green can be? If so, CLICK HERE to schedule a quick kick-off appointment with me. And while you are at it follow along on Instagram and LinkedIn for daily tips and tricks to secure your facility’s reputation.