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2012 Spring | Business & Sustainability

Green Beer: Achieving Sustainability in Brewing

Student(s):

Chris Rehn

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Donald Averill

Partner(s):

  • Naked City Brewing Company

Faculty advisor(s):

Susan Bolton, School of Environmental & Forest Sciences, University of Washington

During my project, I assisted with all aspects of beer production at Naked City Brewing Company. I was interested in working hands-on with beer production to analyze the environmental impacts of beer and learn ways to reduce the environmental burdens specific to beer production. By conducting a review of the scientific literature and interviewing local brewers, I was able to offer site-specific suggestions for improving efficiency and upgrading sustainability practices for Naked City. While there is significant room for improvement in the brewery, looking beyond the brewery towards agriculture and raw materials production is key to mitigating environmental burdens.