Definitely not a crazy idea

Scottish craft brewery Brewdog not only catches the eye with cool advertising and cheeky labels, it has also invested millions to be CO₂-neutral. Thanks to the ambitious “24 to Zero” plan, the Scots have succeeded in officially becoming the world’s first climate-neutral brewery.

The brewery in Ellon, Scotland, has a biogas plant and is also supplied with electricity from wind turbines. Source: Brewdog

“Scientists agree that we are sleepwalking along the edge of a cliff. If the world does not address the urgent CO₂ problem, the consequences will be catastrophic,” says James Watt, CEO and one of the founders of Brewdog in no uncertain terms. And he even goes one step further: “Governments have proven to be completely incapable in the face of this crisis. The change our world and society needs must come from progressive companies, and we want to play our part and show our true colours.”

At Brewdog, not only a cool saying “Let’s make sure we still have a planet tomorrow so we can brew beer”, but also a business strategy. Source: Brewdog

Honeyed words or just a cool saying from a group of people drinking beer at their regular table? Not at all! The boss of Scotland’s largest craft beer brewery also put his money where his mouth is. With the so-called “24 to Zero” plan, Brewdog analysed the company’s energy consumption as well as its recycling and circular economy potential and set itself the goal of brewing climate-neutral beer within just 24 months. The climate action programme and the investment plan of around CHF 33 million included a wide range of measures to reduce CO₂ emissions.

The “24 to Zero” plan impressively demonstrated the great potential for the circular economy at the craft beer producer. Source: Brewdog

This included the commissioning of a biogas plant on the site of the brewery in Ellon, Scotland, which is operated using waste from beer processing. Not only does it convert production wastewater into clean water, it also produces biogas, organic fertilisers and CO₂ for use in foodstuffs. All of this is perfectly integrated into the company’s production cycle, thus creating a truly successful model. At full capacity, the plant can reduce the brewery’s CO₂ emissions by 7,500 tonnes per year.

Two new CNG-powered Scania vehicles refuelling biogas at one of CNG Fuels’ filling stations for Scottish craft beer and hospitality company Brewdog, making them virtually CO₂-neutral on the road. Source: CNG Fuels

Excess biogas is also used as fuel for delivery vehicles and CNG trucks, which, for example, bring the beer to the Glasgow distribution centre in an almost CO₂-neutral way. As a result, the biogas plant in Ellon can produce more than 100 million litres of climate-neutral beer per year. “We’re not just here to make great beer, our aim is to make Brewdog beers the most environmentally friendly in the world,” explains Sarah Warman, Director of Sustainability at Brewdog. “With our biogas plant, we have come a big step closer to achieving this goal. We also want to play a pioneering role for the entire brewing industry.”

Sarah Warman, sustainability director at Brewdog. Source: Brewdog

Brewdog’s sustainability initiatives also include one of the largest projects for planting trees and restoring peat bogs in the UK. On an area of 9,308 hectares, more than 1.1 million trees are thus being planted and peat bogs are being rehabilitated, which can remove a significant amount of carbon from the atmosphere over the next 100 years. In order to meet a brewery’s substantial electricity requirements with green electricity, the Scots have opted for wind power: three 800-kW turbines now supply them with 2.4 megawatts of sustainable energy.

In sunny Australia, where the craft beer and catering company, founded in 2007 by Martin Dickie and James Watt, is now also active, solar power is used to cover a significant proportion of the energy needs of the brewery, pub and restaurant. In addition, the entire draff, i.e. the boiled and crushed malt from beer production, is made available for feeding cattle, thus closing the material cycle here – as is already the case in Ellon, Scotland with the biogas plant. Everything is really clever and not a crazy idea, but a good role model for the entire industry. (jas, 22 September 2022)

Martin Dickie and James Watt, founders of the now international craft beer and hospitality company, are right on the pulse with their beer and sustainability efforts. Source: Brewdog