SUPPLIERS
Lawson ' s Finest Liquids recently added enough solar panels to power 100 % of the energy required to run the Vermont facility .
ble with those resources is table stakes . It is crucial that we not only continue to create incredible beers , but we also make sure that we are good neighbors .”
Ensuring a Brighter Future Through Sustainability
by KRYSTINA SKIBO
Companies across all sectors have been making changes to their business models in recent years to be more eco-friendly . Beverage alcohol suppliers in particular have become more aware of the need to embrace more sustainable business practices .
Why ? Reasearch indicates that many consumers show a clear desire for sustainably made alcohol beverages .
For instance , a survey conducted by Sanya Carley and Lilian Yahng found that 59 % of U . S . beer drinkers would be willing to pay more for beer that has been brewed using more sustainable processes , such as energy-efficient or carbon-saving measures . On average , respondents were willing to pay $ 0.22 more per 12−oz . bottle than the price they already paid for their favorite beer .
Here ’ s a look at how some beveral alcohol industry suppliers are ramping up their sustainability efforts and goals .
BREWING FOR TOMORROW
Brewing beer and sustainability go hand in hand , according to Firestone Walker chief operating officer Nick Firestone . One of the biggest challenges of any brewer is water .
“ It ’ s one of our four primary ingredients , and , being based in California , it is our most precious resource . We have made great strides to improve our water / beer ratio , and I believe we are one of the more water-efficient breweries in the country ,” Firestone says .
The brewery also treats all of its effluent water on-site in aerobic ponds and an anaerobic treatment plant to make sure all the outbound water they send back to the city of Paso Robles is as close to potable as possible . The water then undergoes final treatment and is reused directly by the city .
“ Water efficiency in brewing is a function of investing in highly efficient equipment and smart engineering , yet there are always improvements to be made ,” according to Firestone . “ We like to say that sustainability , in part , is about the act of enduring as a business . While our customers rely on us to make beautiful beers , we also rely on our community to provide the resources to do so ,” Firestone adds . “ Being responsi-
GREEN IS GRAND
Waitsfield , VT-based brewery Lawson ' s Finest Liquids recently added enough solar panels to power 100 % of the energy required to run the facility . In doing so , the business built the largest solar canopy in the state , says newly appointed CEO Adeline Druart .
“ Breweries are resource intensive , especially in terms of water and energy ,” she explains . “ Solar is low-hanging fruit . It ’ s the right thing to do .”
Upholding an eco-conscious philosophy since first opening in 2008 , Lawson ’ s Finest was B Corp Certified this past June . B Corp Certification is a designation that a business meets high standards of verified performance , accountability and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials .
“ It was a big milestone for the company ,” Druart says . “ There ’ s a lot of messaging out there about sustainability , and it ’ s hard for consumers to tell what ’ s real and what ’ s marketing .”
B Corp Certification is a rigorous assessment , she adds : Just 0.02 % of the breweries in the country have this certification .
“ It ’ s a commitment that needs to be throughout the whole business ,” notes Druart . “ The assessors look at our governance , our ownership structure , diversity on the board , how employees are treated , how much we give back to the community , how we impact the environment and what ’ s our carbon footprint .”
A company-wide commitment at Lawson ’ s includes shipping waste in the form of spent grains to local farmers for agricultural use . In addition to water and energy conservation efforts , the brewery also operates a sizeable recycling program .
“ And we look at our suppliers as
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