How New Belgium Brewing Co. is leading the sustainability movement in the microbrewing industry
‘God is great, beer is good and people are crazy.’ That’s the motto for the American beverage industry as the microbrew culture continues to sweep the nation.
The microbrewing industry is likely experiencing one of the biggest booms in industry history, witnessing unparalleled popularity and growth rates, as well as widespread cultural acceptance. But what are breweries doing to keep up with increased demand for sustainability? Well in the case of New Belgium Brewing Company, the third largest craft brew producer in the nation, the answer would be a lot.
When looking at compilations of most sustainable industries, you hardly ever see the microbrewing industry making the top five. And yet, according to Forbes’ 11 Companies Considered Best for the Environment, New Belgium ranks number four.
So what’s giving New Belgium the edge? Take one look at their website and it’s easy to see. Sustainability efforts, environmental metrics, water, waste, emissions and natural resource management, it’s all there at the touch of a key. And let me tell you…it’s impressive.
New Belgium is a benefit corporation, one of the only of its kind in Fort Collins. A benefit corporation takes into account environmental and social impacts of its organization. In doing so, they have hoisted their sustainability efforts to the front lines. Sustainability refers to the “maintenance of the factors and practices that contribute to the quality of the environment on a long-term basis,” according to Business Dictionary. Ninety-nine percent of waste created during manufacturing at New Belgium is recycled, reused or composted. Efforts to increase renewable energy use and efficiency and reduce the company’s carbon footprint were set in place in New Belgium’s 2009 Sustainability Management System and have continued to improve the company’s overall green initiative since.
According to New Belgium’s Sustainability Report, 12.6 percent of the company’s electricity is produced on site, water use has dropped from 4.31 to 3.96 barrels per barrel of beer in the past year and 85.3 percent of greenhouse gas emissions have been classified as indirect emissions, meaning they occur from sources not owned or controlled by the institution.
One of New Belgium’s biggest competitors in both brewing and sustainability is the city of Portland, Oregon. With over sixty breweries, Portland has managed to rank first in Top 10 Green Cities in the U.S. and CNN’s Best Beer Town’s in America. But bulldozing through the hype, only one of those 60+ breweries has made it on any ‘Top Breweries’ lists, while both New Belgium and Odell Brewing have consistently made the top 15.
In terms of sustainability, very few of Portland’s ‘big name breweries’ even release information on environmental efforts. Hopworks Urban Brewery, however, does put focus on three staples of company initiative: quality, community and environment, with a large emphasis of their environmental consideration being commuting by bike, an initiative also supported by the folks at New Belgium. Both Hopworks and New Belgium are certified B corporations, which means that are held to rigorous standards of environmental performance, accountability and transparency. But when comparing both company’s “B Impact Scores,” New Belgium outranks Hopworks in almost every category, including environmental performance, relationship with workers, and customer and community impact. A perfect B Impact score is 200, and New Belgium has racked up a cumulative score of 143, more than 60 points higher than the median.
New Belgium’s B-corp mission statement:
“In becoming a Certified B Corporation, New Belgium Brewing hopes to set an example for good corporate role models who consider people and the planet, in addition to profits when making strategic decisions. They are committed to brewing world-class beers in an environmentally friendly and socially responsible fashion.”
For New Belgium it’s not just about one single factor of their organization, be it brewing, sustainability or being the best in the industry. It’s about creating a community reflective of the three B’s for which Fort Collins stands: beer, bikes and bands. Beer, for the world-class beer they produce; bikes, in essence of their statement of environmental awareness; and bands, for their support and connectivity with the thriving local music community. Their efforts in environmental friendliness and social responsibility have led the charge for like-minded companies to follow, and they continue to be a staple of Fort Collins’ culture.
