Sustainability 2024 | Page 12

“ Using Stelvin screw caps for wine bottles is more sustainable these days instead of using cork .”
SUPPLIERS

“ Using Stelvin screw caps for wine bottles is more sustainable these days instead of using cork .”

– Kate Webb , cofounder of wine brand Sun Moon Rising
Sierra Nevada Brewing ’ s Mills River , NC , location ’ s sustainability innovations include using different fuel sources , creating more renewable energy on site and explotins alternative transportation options .
that meet high standards addressing carbon , energy , water , waste , transportation , materials , health and indoor environmental quality .
“ We implement sustainable practices throughout the 18,000−square-foot distillery , which stands on a rehabilitated former lumber yard , where the land and surrounding soil have been revitalized ,” says Aspen Vodka founder Matt Patel . He explains that “ 105 % of the energy is supplied by a combination of on and off-site solar and battery storage , generating more renewable energy than consumed .”
Additionally , the energy-neutral , on-site wastewater treatment generates zero carbon emissions and improves water quality , with 100 % of the distilling process wastewater treated before being returned to the Roaring Fork River .
“ Now in full operation , the distillery shows a 26 % reduction in embodied carbon through a whole building life cycle assessment ,” Patel says .
Sun Moon Rising wine partners with two sustainable vineyards in New York , one of them being Heron Hill Winery in Hammondsport . “ They are a solar powered winery and have a variety of green initiatives ,” says Webb .
For example , Heron Hill uses “ tartrate inhibitors as opposed to using energy for cooling and chilling ,” according to Webb . The winery also utilizes a composting system to recycle all the waste from the grapes .
Since its inception in 1980 , Sierra Nevada Brewing Co . has been sustainably brewing its beer . “ It ’ s less about how much is sustainable and more about just continuing to build and grow off of what we ’ ve done in previous years ,” says Mandi McKay , director of sustainability and social responsibility for the brewery .
For example , 20 to 30 years ago , Sierra Nevada Brewing was more focused on producing zero waste , “ such as traditional recycling , water reduction and energy efficiency ,” according to McKay . While the brewery has maintained those values , over the years , it has expanded its sustainability practices to include reducing greenhouse gas emissions .
“ Greenhouse gas emissions come in three different scopes : operational emissions , energy emissions and then the emissions from everything up or downstream from your operation ,” explains McKay .
“ So reducing emissions will look different for each of those scopes , but in general , we try to come up with different fuel sources , create more renewable energy on site , try different transportation options or electrify our fleet to reduce fossil fuel consumption .”•
12 2024 Sustainability Guide