The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has announced a new program to help local craft breweries become more environmentally friendly.
The Environmentally Sustainable Craft Beverage Program was developed alongside the other New England states (except Vermont). The group collaborated to develop performance standards for the program; each has a consistent set of criteria for their programs.
The program’s stated goals are to “help craft beverage manufacturers reduce their environmental impact by taking actions to minimize waste and the use of toxic products, and to manage resources efficiently.”
Businesses who wish to join the program have to apply on the DEEP website and meet a set of criteria. Those criteria include, but are not limited to:
- Locally sourcing raw materials (grain, malt, hops)
- Lower water-to-beer ratio than average
- Reusing water in rinses
- Wastewater reduction practices
- Utilizing renewable energy sources
- Installing EV chargers for the public
- Using electric delivery vehicles
- Regular maintenance and upkeep on equipment to maintain efficiency
- Energy audits and tracking
Each sustainable criteria carries a points value and each business must reach at least 70 points to qualify for the program. The points have to be split across several categories.
Applications have to be submitted every two years.
There are no financial incentives for participation, other than the possibility of attracting a more environmentally-minded customer base. There are, however, state programs that provide funding for certain sustainability updates.Participation does come with certification by DEEP, a decal to display on your business, and listing on the DEEP website and a regional map as a sustainable brewery.
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Makes total sense – do what Budweiser did and get the same bad results. Drive away your current customers for a “more environmentally-minded customer base,” whatever that is, and get nothing but a ribbon for virtue signaling in return. Customers already pay $7-$10 a pint, and most of this will only add more cost. Any business that wants to remain in business will not participate.