Sustainability Matters!

The beer scene has exploded in the last several years. Breweries are popping up in every town, city and county all across the United States and they are selling a variety of types of beer with different brewing methods and flavors. If you’re a lover of beer, check out the scene and experience what these new beers have to offer! At the same time environmental stewardship through sustainability should be a top priority.

Whether you’re a seasoned lover of beer or new to the scene, it’s important to think through the sustainability of your beer drinking, just like with any other hobby. Drinking beer in an unsustainable way can result in a ton of waste and have a huge impact on the environment, particularly as the scene continues to grow at such a rapid speed.

As you think through sustainability options when it comes to your drinking, consider these easy and accessible ways to be mindful about drinking beer in an eco-friendly way.

Re-Use When Possible

If you’re committed to a select few local breweries in your area, see if they have growlers available for purchase. Instead of picking up a six pack from the grocery store each week, take that growler to the brewery and have it refilled. Or, if your favorite brewery isn’t in town, invest in a growler at a “Growlers-To-Go” location where you’ll be able to try a variety of beers and discover new favorites. This is an easy, no-waste option for getting your drink on!

When You Can’t Re-Use, Recycle

Recycling is a no-brainer. Any sustainable beer drinker knows how critical this is, especially if you’re consuming several six packs in a month. Imagine that impact on the environment multiplied by all the beer lovers in the world? That’s a lot of trash and a huge waste. Bottles, bottle caps, six-pack cartons and cases are all recyclable materials that can be picked up at your curbside. But if curbside pickup is not available where you live, try searching for other options near you or a convenient drop off location. If you commonly buy six-packs, start bringing your own reusable six-pack carrier.

Use Kegs for Improved Sustainability

Sustainable beer drinkers will find many benefits when it comes to drinking from kegs as opposed to other ways to drink at home. Buying or leasing a refilling a keg results in much less waste than individual bottles and cans, and if you’re throwing a party at your home you can encourage everyone to bring a cup from home.

To make it fun, vote on who brings the most fun cup! Not to mention, drinking from kegs saves space for beer transporters so they can use less gasoline. When it’s time to dispose of a keg, you’ll have to take some extra steps to ensure that it is properly recycled. Most kegs are made from aluminum or steel and will have that information written somewhere on the outside of the keg along with a number that indicates whether or not it can be recycled in your city. With this information, you can call your city’s recycling program for detailed information on next steps. Be sure to only dispose of the keg if you own it. If it’s owned by a grocer, beer retailer or manufacturer, then return it so it can be reused.

Drink from Glass, Not Plastic

Many breweries offer plastic drinking cups during their busier hours. If you happen to be present at those times, request a glass drinking cup to cut down on waste. If the brewery you’re visiting is concerned about too many broken glasses during the peak hours, see if you can speak to someone about compostable cup options that will have less of an impact on the environment.

Choose Sustainable Breweries to Support

Many brewers are taking a closer look at sustainability within their business model. This can include things like compostable materials, alternative sources of energy, reduction in the amount of water they use, supporting important causes through their business and much more. Regardless of the size, the Brewer’s Association is pushing for more sustainable brewing practices, which is improving industry sustainability.

Drink Local When Possible

Supporting small business is always more sustainable than big, established corporations. The good news is there are so many breweries popping up in virtually every city and county across the United States. Craft beer culture is exploding, and so is the idea of sustainability. Supporting a local brewer often means that the beer they’re making is being made in the same facility where it’s sold, so there is less energy being spent on transporting the beer far and wide. Often times, local beer brands are more invested in their community as well, providing their fans with opportunities to support causes that are important to them and sometimes even relevant to their business model.

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Bottom Line: Sustainability Matters

Just like most hobbies, beer brings people together and all hobbies have an aspect of sustainability. If getting deeply involved in beer, the way it’s made, the community that surrounds it and expanding your palate are important to you, consider the above options to make it a guilt-free hobby that you can enjoy for years to come.

 

About the Author – Haley Kieser:

Haley resides in the valley of the sun. Although an Arizona native, the Midwest is her favorite place to be. Her favorite beer is a West-O Coco Stout from Okoboji, Iowa.