Sustainability Trends in the Regional Craft Beer Industry

Abstract

Intensive water and energy use, copious volumes of wastewater and solid waste, and large carbon footprints make the process of brewing and distributing beer a not-so-(environmentally)-friendly industry. However, the rise of craft breweries and their perceived foci on environmental, economic and/or social sustainability trends have promulgated a “greening” in the beer industry at local to global scales. To assess the geographies of sustainability in the craft beer industry, we distributed a mixed method survey to all regional craft breweries in the United States. Overall, more sustainable practices have been adopted at various levels of the craft beer production, including the reduction of water and energy use and increased energy efficiency, the use of organic or local ingredients, and the incorporation of a culture that promotes sustainability. These and related findings showcase certain sustainability trends and practices being adopted by regional craft breweries in the United States.