With breweries being major commercial consumers of water and energy, adopting eco-friendly practices has become imperative. The carbon footprint of a standard pint of beer is estimated to be 1.15 pounds CO2 – multiplied across the UK’s 49,000 pubs, the environmental impact quickly adds up. As sustainability concerns grow amongst consumers, however, there are increasing efforts by innovative brewers to slash emissions.
What Makes a Brewery Sustainable?
Renewable Energy
Many eco-friendly breweries across Britain now use renewable energy sources like solar, wind, or biogas to power their operations. Scottish brewery BrewDog has installed over 20,000 square feet of solar panels at their HQ, enabling them to brew 60% of their beer using clean energy from the sun. This is estimated to save over 750 tonnes of CO2 annually.
Efficient Equipment
By upgrading to cutting-edge energy-efficient brewing equipment, sustainable brewers have managed to dramatically cut electricity and water consumption. State-of-the-art steam condensers, for example, can reduce a brewery’s energy spend by up to 60%!
Eco-Friendly Ingredients
Responsibly-sourced, organic ingredients are a priority for many green beer brands. The UK’s first carbon-neutral brewery, Zero Degrees, sources fresh Springer Barley from local Northamptonshire farmers to craft their sustainable brews.
Waste Reduction
Eco-conscious breweries are serious about cutting waste, ensuring spent grains get re-utilised as dairy cattle feed rather than dumped. Many are also switching to recyclable cans over glass to bring down their carbon footprint. Brewdog has managed to divert 99.4% of all waste from landfills.
Top Sustainable Beer Brands
“We firmly believe sustainability should be at the forefront of every brewer’s mind,” says Mike Hiller of Green City Brewing.
Here are some trailblazing eco-friendly beer brands to look out for:
Neon Raptor
This Nottingham-based brewery “thinks globally but brews locally”, creating unique gluten-free craft beers from British-grown ingredients. Their tropical pale ales pack some serious eco-credentials, brewed using 100% renewable energy.
Sambrook’s
At their “Brewery of Tomorrow” in London, Sambrook’s has cut water usage by 66% thanks to smart tech investments. Their award-winning Wandle ale is now certified carbon neutral, while their pumpkin ale makes for a frightfully green Halloween tipple.
Going Green at Home
You don’t have to brew your own beer to make eco-friendly choices. Here are some quick tips: Seek out local brews to reduce transport emissions. Buying British means a lower carbon footprint. Choose reusable growlers over cans to cut single-use packaging. Enjoy bottled beers chilled, not warm – this saves power consumption. Recycle those empty beer cans once you’re done! Aluminium cans are infinitely recyclable. So next time you fancy an eco-friendly brew, look for sustainable symbols on the labels to sip your ale the green way. With more breweries taking action to cut emissions every year, the future of sustainable beer in Britain looks bright.
Final Thoughts
With increasing numbers of breweries taking meaningful action to slash their environmental footprints every year, the future of sustainable beer in Britain looks bright. Choosing eco-friendly brews where possible is an easy way for us all to contribute to a greener planet while still enjoying a delicious cold one at the pub.