In this newsletter Zumer is focusing our lens on one of the world's favorite beverages, beer. We have been researching and evaluating the major players in the beer industry to see who is taking the most positive steps to reduce their impact. Use Zumer to find a beer that matches your taste with what is important to you.
Why aren't local beers in my top five?
One of the challenges we face in rating and ranking micro-brews is that there is a lack of environmental and social data available. We cannot give a micro-brew a score on GHG emissions when this information is not available. While we don't want to put the small guys at a disadvantage, as accountants always say: "you can't manage what you don't measure," if a company is not tracking their impact, they are not very likely to improve it.
Thankfully things are starting to change and more small and medium sized businesses are starting to take serious steps to reduce their impact. For example, Vancouver based NGO, Ecotrust launched a working group this past fall to assist BC business to track, reduce, and offset their GHG emissions. Eleven companies took part in the fall, with another 75 participating in 2008. Read more...
Likewise, sometimes a micro-brew is not covered in Zumer simply because the community has not yet had the time to research it. If you come across a news article, award, or other facts about a small brewery be sure to add it to Zumer. (Check out our tutorials if you are not sure how to add companies or details). The more you participate, the more accurate the database will become.
Made in Canada?
Many beers are marketed as being 'distinctively' Canadian, but in reality they are owned by large international conglomerates. Take Lucky Lager for example. Lucky, a long time BC staple, is actually owned by Labatt. However, Labatt is not simply Labatt, as it was acquired by Belgian brewer InBev in 1991. Even micro-brews such as Shaftebury, and Okanagan Spring, are actually owned by Sleeman Breweries, who in turn is owned by Sapporo Brewing.
There are however a number of great local micro breweries that still remain independent such as Phillips and Vancouver Island Breweries. You can use Zumer to look up your favorite brands and see its corporate genealogy.
| Did You Know? |
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Beer is the second most popular beverage in the world, coming in behind tea. (Source) The people at Guinness, Ireland's most famous brewery, estimate that in Great Britain alone, 92,749 litres of beer each year are lost in beer drinker's moustaches and beards. They estimate that each pint (approx. 1/2L) is raised 10 times, and each time, 0.56 ml is absorbed into the facial hair. (Source) |
Tips to Green up your Beer Drinking
Find a true local brewery close to home. This immediately cuts down on GHG emissions caused by the transportation of the beer from factory to your hand.
If possible choose to purchase your beer in cans. If you prefer to buy a major brand of beer, a can is a more environmentally friendly way to go. Recycling of aluminum is common, and there is a greater demand for the recycled product, not only to make new cans, but also for auto makers. Cans are also lighter than glass and reduce the weight when being transported. For example Anheuser-Busch, makers of Budweiser annually recycles more aluminum cans than it actually produces and sells.
But really, the most eco-friendly way to enjoy a pint is to tap a keg - not literally - but head down to a local pub or restaurant and enjoy a pint from the tap. Kegs are reused for up to 20 years by breweries, and little waste comes from drinking out of a reusable glass.
Do you have any other tips to green up your beer drinking? Post it in the forum.
Use Zumer to compare Beer.