BREWING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
A GUIDE TO WATER MANAGEMENT
FOCUS
DURING THIS SERIES OF FOUR ARTICLES, ECONSE WILL DISCUSS A BROAD RANGE OF TOPICS, INCLUDING HOW BREWERIES CAN MANAGE THEIR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE AND EVEN WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE “SUSTAINABLE” ANYWAYS? IN THIS EDITION, ECONSE CEO DEREK DAVY SHARES TIPS FOR STANDING OUT AS A SUSTAINABILITY LEADER.
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ISSUE 33 | 2024/25
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ou’ve got a great line-up of delicious craft beers. Your hard-working staff is dedicated to consistently producing the highest quality product. Your entire team is engaged in your community. And, because you always want to attract more customers and grow your business, you’re still looking for even more ways to stand out from the crowd. Sustainability presents itself as an opportunity to further elevate and distinguish your brewery. There are a number of great reasons to embrace this value— beyond its benefits for our environment. However, to maximize the impact, you need to be careful about how you introduce, implement, and communicate your sustainability value. In this article, we’ll take a look at sustainability through the lens of your brewery, showing its positive impacts, the potential pitfalls, and actionable steps you can take to become a sustainability leader. THE BENEFITS OF SUSTAINABILITY You know that sustainable efforts, from recycling and reuse to wastewater treatment and energy efficiency, support the
health of your community and planet. But you may be surprised at how those same initiatives can support your business. Implementing sustainable practices can enhance your brand image and credibility. Studies reveal that 84 percent of consumers consider the causes a brand supports when making a purchase decision. Overlay that with a recent NeilsonIQ study that found 78 percent of US consumers say that a sustainable lifestyle is important to them, and you can quickly see how important your eco-friendly efforts become. When consumers see that you’re actively supporting a cause that’s already important to them, they feel an instant connection. Now, your brewery isn’t simply providing them with great beer, you’re also providing good feelings about the choice they’ve made. Cost is obviously a concern when updating or changing operations in any way. And while sustainable solutions do have an upfront expense, they often come with long-term savings. By optimizing your use of resources, minimizing your waste, and maximizing efficiencies, you start seeing reduced costs across your operation.
BREWERS JOURNAL CANADA