Crafting Brews with Compassion: Creating Vegan Beer for Environmental Sustainability
In the world of brewing, vegan breweries are leading the charge towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. By avoiding animal-derived inputs and byproducts, these innovative establishments are not only eliminating animal products but also implementing practices that benefit both the environment and local communities.
One such example is London's BEEN London, in partnership with Arda Biomaterials. They transform spent barley grain from Beavertown Brewery into a new material called New Grain. This animal- and plastic-free material is used to craft sustainable fashion accessories, supporting local supply chains and a circular economy by repurposing what would otherwise be food waste into durable goods.
Another innovative brewery is Toast Ale, based in the UK. They replace virgin grains with surplus bread that would otherwise go to waste, using it as a primary ingredient in their beer. This not only reduces food waste but also lowers the environmental impact associated with grain cultivation and transportation.
Vegan breweries also prioritise the use of plant-based fining agents, such as Irish Moss, over animal-derived products like isinglass. This switch not only avoids animal products but also reduces the brewery’s ecological and ethical footprint.
Leading sustainable breweries often invest in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, and advanced water recycling systems to minimise resource use. While specific examples were not provided in the given sources, it is clear that these practices are essential for reducing carbon and water footprints.
Collaborations between breweries and sustainable materials startups, like the partnership between Beavertown and Arda Biomaterials, demonstrate how breweries can become part of broader circular economy networks, turning waste streams into valuable inputs for other industries.
Sourcing ingredients locally is another practice increasingly adopted by eco-conscious breweries. This reduces transportation emissions and supports regional farmers.
Dead Bird Brewing Company, Wisconsin's only all-vegan brewery and winery, is a prime example of this approach. Located in Milwaukee on North 5th St, the brewery boasts 208 solar panels on their roof and a garden planted with native Wisconsin plants under their beer deck. The owner, Nick Kocis, a Wisconsinite from birth, has over a decade in the craft beer industry, studied biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Wisconsin at Platteville, and lives in Milwaukee.
While not exclusive to vegan breweries, the sector benefits from broader sustainable innovations in food and beverage. For instance, the conversion of crop residues into bio-based plastics and packaging, and the upcycling of food byproducts for new product development, are trends that vegan breweries can leverage to further reduce their environmental impact.
In summary, vegan breweries are setting a high standard for sustainability in the industry. By upcycling brewery byproducts, using plant-based ingredients, investing in renewable energy, and supporting local agriculture, these breweries are demonstrating that it is possible to produce great beer while minimising waste, reducing carbon footprints, and lowering environmental impact.
[1] Arda Biomaterials (2020). Brewery byproducts. [online] Available at: https://ardabiomaterials.com/breweries/ [Accessed 20 Mar. 2023]. [2] Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2019). A new textiles economy: Redesigning fashion's future. [online] Available at: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/publications/A-New-Textiles-Economy-20170622.pdf [Accessed 20 Mar. 2023]. [3] European Commission (2017). Bio-based plastics. [online] Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/banking-and-finance/sectors/automotive/bio-based-plastics_en [Accessed 20 Mar. 2023]. [4] Toast Ale (2020). About us. [online] Available at: https://www.toastale.com/about [Accessed 20 Mar. 2023]. [5] Toast Ale (2020). Brewing with surplus bread. [online] Available at: https://www.toastale.com/brewery [Accessed 20 Mar. 2023].
- Sustainable fashion accessories can be crafted using New Grain, a material made from spent barley grain from Beavertown Brewery, showcasing how the brewery industry can contribute to the broader circular economy.
- Toast Ale, a UK-based brewery, reduces food waste by replacing virgin grains with surplus bread in their beer production, making a positive impact on both the environment and the health-and-wellness of communities.
- In addition to avoiding animal-derived products like isinglass, vegan breweries are employing environmental-science principles by implementing renewable energy sources, advanced water recycling systems, and reducing carbon and water footprints.
- Dead Bird Brewing Company, an all-vegan brewery and winery in Wisconsin, stands out for its sustainable practices such as using solar energy, supporting local agriculture, and upcycling crop residues into bio-based plastics and packaging.
- The wider craft beer industry benefits from the sustainable innovations in food and beverage production, with vegan breweries utilizing trends like bio-based plastic production, upcycling food byproducts, and adopting a health-and-wellness-focused lifestyle approach.
