Sustainable Breweries and other Craft Beverages (original) (raw)

Sustainable Breweries and Other Craft Beverages

Header image showing beer and equipment at breweries.

“ Environmental stewardship is paramount for the health and vitality of the craft brewing community” - John Stier, National Brewers Association website .

Connecticut's craft beverage industry, including breweries, wineries, distilleries, and cideries, has grown rapidly in the past 10 years with over 200 craft beverage manufacturers operating statewide in 2024. The brewing process is energy intensive, uses large amounts of water and generates high volumes of wastewater and organic wastes. There are many actions breweries and other craft beverage makers can take to reduce their environmental footprint, prevent pollution, conserve natural resources and be a model of sustainability. The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is committed to providing assistance to breweries across the state to minimize waste, reduce pollution, promote energy efficiency resulting in lower greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage use of less toxic cleaning products. For more information, contact Connie.Mendolia@ct.gov (860-424-3243) or DEEP.PollutionPrevention@ct.gov.

NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITY for Craft Beverage Manufacturers in Connecticut for Projects that Prevent Pollution – Opens October 3, 2024:

Craft beverage manufacturers in CT are eligible to apply for a small grant to off-set the cost of equipment that can result in reducing pollution and increasing efficiency.

Are you a brewery owner in Connecticut? Learn more about...

Recognition Program & Technical Assistance

Logo BetterBev Recognition

BetterBev New England - Environmentally Sustainable Craft Beverage Program

Participate in this new, voluntary program and receive assistance with and recognition for operating in an environmentally sustainable way!

This is a free program developed to help craft beverage manufacturers reduce their environmental impact by taking actions to minimize waste and the use of toxic products, and to manage resources efficiently. CT DEEP's Pollution Prevention program (P2) manages the program with input from the CT Brewers Guild. Contact Connie Mendolia for more information.

Connecticut has collaborated with New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusetts to develop performance standards and create this program; the New England states have similar programs that provide a consistent set of program criteria. Find out more about the regional program at BetterBev .

Who are the BetterBev New England businesses?

Find CT's recognized businesses here

Less Toxic Cleaning & Sanitizing

NEW OFFERING! Free Assistance with choosing Safer Chemicals - includes review of products currently being used, bench-testing alternative products on your problematic soils, and performance testing. Find out more here

Most breweries and other craft beverage makers are using chemicals common in food applications for cleaning- and sanitizing-in-place. There are safer options than caustic sodium hydroxide. The Toxic Reduction Institute (UMass Lowell) provides information for craft brewers on safer alternatives, including using brewers wash at a lower temperature and volume to clean and using NADCC tablets to sanitize:

Water and Wastewater Discharge

Wastewater discharges are regulated by CT DEEP and the local wastewater treatment facility (POTW). Beer making uses a significant amount of water and generates large amounts of high strength wastewater. It is important that breweries adhere to effluent limits set out in their general permits. Breweries can implement best management practices to reduce their high strength waste before sending to the treatment facility. Assistance from DEEP's Pollution Prevention program is available at 860-424-3297 or email.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Onsite Assistance and Assessments:

1. CT DEEP is working with UI and Eversource to assist breweries with reducing energy use and saving money.

2. The new Southern New England Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) at UConn & University of New Haven administered by the US DOE was established in 2021. The IAC provides uses engineering students to provide free audits and consulting services to small and medium-sized manufacturers for saving energy, reducing water usage, reducing carbon footprint, adopting renewable energy, and improving productivity. Breweries with energy bills greater than $100,000 may be eligible and can request an assessment here.

Renewables:

Thinking about using solar energy at your brewery? Find out what you need to get started with DEEP's new FAQ document:

Brewery Success Stories and Resources:

There are case studies from breweries in CT and New England highlighting improvements ranging from solar hot water heating systems, heat recovery, lighting, motor and compressor upgrades, pipe insulation, high efficiency refrigeration and more!

These energy-related tools and resources are available:

Reducing Waste, Waste & Organics Recycling

The brewing process generates a variety of wastes, including spent grains, spent yeast and tank bottoms. Separating out and collecting each waste steam allows them to be sent to an appropriate facility for reuse or disposal. Other wastes that breweries may generate include packaging, mandatory recyclables and scrap plate waste from dining, all of which can be diverted from trash. CT DEEP can provide assistance with setting up a program, including a site visit. Contact Connie Mendolia

CO2 and Nitrogen

Buying Local

Regulatory Information

Financing Opportunities

Check out programs administered through the CT Department of Community and Economic Development (DECD) and the CT Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT):

Sustainability and Preventing Pollution (P2)

Resources

1. CT DEEP Information / Recent Presentations:

2. Several New England states and beyond have been providing pollution prevention assistance to breweries, wineries and distilleries. Find case studies and other useful information ranging from supply chain sustainability to resource conservation below:

In addition, the following resources are available on sustainable supply chains:

Page Updated September 2024