Brewing Conservation, Community and Local Jobs:
Healthy habitat supports local brewery
What do habitat restoration projects and breweries have in common? The answer — clean water. On average, it takes five to seven gallons of water to produce one gallon of beer. The same clean water programs and federal investments that benefit healthy salmon runs and thriving orcas also support businesses and the communities they invest in.
In 2012 Aslan Brewing Co. started as a conversation among friends. Eight years later, the Bellingham-based business distributes beer all along the West Coast in addition to having a brewpub and taprooms in both Bellingham and Seattle. From the beginning, they wanted to do something different- something that integrated their love for beer with their commitment to locally-sourced goods, low-impact practices and community building. One way they do this is through sourcing organic ingredients, which isn’t always the easiest option. Oftentimes, organic ingredients are more expensive or hard to find in comparison to conventional ingredients. At the end of day however, the benefits to people and nature outweigh the tradeoffs.
“As a large brewery in a small town, we feel that people are paying attention to decisions we make regarding the production of our product. We make the decision to produce organic beer because it’s the right thing to do for our planet. The organic ingredients we purchase create a smaller carbon footprint, foster more biodiversity, and are safer for farmers to grow. With these ingredients, we strive to produce world-class organic ales and lagers and promote a healthier, happier, and more environmentally conscious community.”
As a local job provider, Aslan understands that a commitment to healthy environment also means supporting healthy community. To foster employee wellbeing, Aslan provides competitive wages, health insurance, 401(k) options, paid-time-off for salaried employees and free or discounted meals at work. The company invites their staff to shape the impact they want to have whether that means supporting an organization that is important to them or organizing a day of service. One example of stewardship is Aslan employees serve as stewards for three rain gardens in downtown Bellingham.
Business practices that limit the amount of toxins entering our waterways overlap with the interests of the brewing community. The brewery even came out with a beer called “Fish have Feelings” that was Salmon-Safe Certified, in recognition of Aslan’s production process that protects water quality, maintains watershed health and restores habitat.
“Our water source is an integral part of our business and we believe it’s our responsibility to do what we can do protect it. Rain gardens reduce harmful stormwater runoff, reduce erosion, protect stream habitat and act as a natural filter for the water that eventually winds up in our lakes and bay.”
While it may not be obvious when you’re drinking a pint of your favorite ale or lager, it’s clear that protecting watershed health, also supports local business that are at the heart of a thriving community. Maintained and increased funding for federal grant programs like the Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) and the Puget Sound National Estuaries Program (NEP) is critical to projects that improve our environment and save salmon and orcas, while also supporting local jobs and industries that depend on clean water.
