In a time when water scarcity is the norm for much of the country, environmental pressures effect numerous industries including breweries. “On average, it takes about 4 to 5 gallons of water to produce a gallon of beer, making it a water-intensive industry.”[1]
The city of Burlington, Vermont has six breweries, which does not seem like a lot. However, in recent years the volume of beer produced by these breweries has increased and so, too, has the waste. “Brewery waste includes yeast, spent grains and hops, and managing waste is expensive and challenging, local breweries say. Managing water and wastewater, too, is particularly challenging for breweries, considering that beer is made up of 90% to 95% water.”[2] This increase in volume places increased demands on the city water treatment plants. In June of this year, the city of Burlington released 1.8 million gallons of partially treated wastewater into Lake Champlain which led to the closure of city beaches. Officials reported that “part of the problem was wastewater from breweries and food producers that upset the biological balance of the treatment plant.”[3]
The issues of water shortage and recycling go hand in hand for brewers. “All brewers understand that water shortages threaten their businesses…Because brewers are selling a product that’s mostly water, they need to figure out how to build resilience into their supply chains.”[4] The number of gallons of water for every gallon of beer is decreasing across the spectrum of beer manufacturers. The ratio of water-to-beer at Oregon’s Full Sail Brewing Company, a small craft brewer, is now less than three-to-one, perhaps the lowest in the industry. The world’s largest beer producers, Molson Coors and AB InBev (Anheuser-Busch), are getting close to three-to-one as well.[5]
In addition to finding ways to use less water in the brewing process, brewers are also considering different approaches to addressing the problem. Some brewers are removing waste from wastewater and finding unique ways to recycle the waste, themselves. Full Sail Brewing Company has adopted a broad “green” mindset, recycling “spent grain and yeast solids by passing them to local dairy farmers as feed for cows. It also has a hot-water recovery system that reuses leftover hot water in the brew house, thus saving more than three million gallons of water a year.”[6]
Other brewers are using recycled water for their product. Most of us agree with the concept of recycling water for varied uses, but “some people may still be turned off by the idea of drinking something that may have once been sewage.”[7] From a business perspective, using recycled water to brew beer ensures brewers have a consistent supply of water.[8]
As an industry, brewers face mounting pressure to be environmental stewards, so regardless the method, using less water is the end goal. How they achieve that goal may differ but as a group, they could lead the way for other food/beverage companies to consider ways that they can incorporate reclaimed water and recycling practices into their business model.
[1] Rathke, Lisa. “Burlington’s Breweries Blamed for Wastewater Leaks That Closed Beaches.” Burlington Free Press, Burlington Free Press, 25 June 2018, www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2018/06/25/burlingtons-breweries-blamed-wastewater-leaks-closed-beaches/730413002/.
[2] Hermes, Jennifer. “Wastewater Dumped into Lake Champlain Caused Partially by VT Breweries.” Environmental Leader, 25 June 2018, www.environmentalleader.com/2018/06/wastewater-dumped-into-lake-champlain-caused-partially-by-vt-breweries/?amp=1.
[3]Rathke, Lisa. “Burlington’s Breweries Blamed for Wastewater Leaks That Closed Beaches.” Burlington Free Press, Burlington Free Press, 25 June 2018, www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2018/06/25/burlingtons-breweries-blamed-wastewater-leaks-closed-beaches/730413002/
[4]Glennon, Robert. “Could Craft Breweries Help Lead the Way in Water Conservation?” Pacific Standard, Pacific Standard, 2 Jan. 2018, https://psmag.com/environment/crafting-solutions-to-water-shortages-in-brewing
[5] Glennon, Robert. “Could Craft Breweries Help Lead the Way in Water Conservation?” Pacific Standard, Pacific Standard, 2 Jan. 2018, https://psmag.com/environment/crafting-solutions-to-water-shortages-in-brewing
[6] Glennon, Robert. “Could Craft Breweries Help Lead the Way in Water Conservation?” Pacific Standard, Pacific Standard, 2 Jan. 2018, https://psmag.com/environment/crafting-solutions-to-water-shortages-in-brewing
[7] Pomranz, Mike. “Wastewater Beer’s Sobering Moral: Many Still Don’t Understand Recycled Water.” Food & Wine, Oct. 2017, www.foodandwine.com/beer/wastewater-beers-sobering-moral-many-still-dont-understand-recycled-water.
[8] Glennon, Robert. “Could Craft Breweries Help Lead the Way in Water Conservation?” Pacific Standard, Pacific Standard, 2 Jan. 2018, https://psmag.com/environment/crafting-solutions-to-water-shortages-in-brewing
Photo Credit: Navin Rajagopalan, Flikr