What environmental actions is the brewing sector taking?

Environmental responsibility is the order of the day. It’s not a fad, but a necessity. More and more brands are joining the effort to care for the environment. The trend shows that it is a duty of companies to preserve the planet. In this regard, the beer sector is no stranger to environmental concerns. In recent times we have seen more or less creative actions to contribute. Here are some examples:

• Eliminating single‑use packaging. More and more breweries are choosing to get rid of the plastic rings on the typical six‑packs. These rings not only pollute for hundreds of years; they are also dangerous for wildlife, as they trap turtles, fish and other animals. Breweries are opting to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging, which brings us to the next point.
• Use reusable containers. The key lies in the circularity of the material. For example, aluminum cans are melted down again to make new containers. This minimizes waste and energy costs.
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• Use eco-friendly, recyclable packaging. Recycled cardboard is now standard practice, and companies in the sector are gradually adopting it. In some cases, it is even biodegradable cardboard or material that can be recycled into new products.
• Sending spent grain from production to livestock farming. A classic. Beer brewing leaves a solid cereal residue that is still tremendously rich in sugars. Most breweries (if not all) give this spent grain to nearby livestock farmers to feed their herds. Everybody wins.
• Minimize CO2 emissions. Reducing the carbon footprint is key in the fight against climate change. Some breweries choose to minimize their carbon footprint. The goal is what’s known as negative emissions—that is, absorbing more CO2 than the brewery produces. How? Simple: replanting forested areas that absorb that excess CO2.
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• Eficiencia energética. Existen sistemas modernos que permiten optimizar el consumo de energía, de manera que el calor residual se utilice para posteriores fases de la fabricación. Igual ocurre con el agua. Reaprovechar todos los elementos sobrantes o reutilizables durante el proceso de producción.
• Brewing organic beers. There is a specific market built around organic beer. In other words, beers made from raw materials certified as environmentally friendly. This certification is not limited to the ingredients, but also applies to the production processes.

These are some of the main measures that the brewing sector is implementing to reduce its environmental impact. It benefits everyone to see how more and more companies are becoming actively aware of climate change.