Keeping things circular at Capital Brewing Co
The process of brewing is a hugely resource intensive process. It also generates large volumes of by-product which historically gets wasted and generates greenhouse gases.
Capital Brewing Co recognised the need to act. They started to divert their spent hops, yeast and grain to a local farm that uses it to feed livestock and produce nutrient-rich compost.
The challenge
“At Capital Brewing Co, we produce around 1.5 million litres of beer each year. Through the brewing process, tonnes of spent hops, yeast and grain are generated as a by-product,” said sustainability manager, Dan Watters.
“This food waste, when sent to landfill, generates methane as it breaks down. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. In the ACT, approximately 65,000 tonnes of organics end up in landfill each year.
The action
“We saw that our spent grain, hops and yeast were valuable nutrients that could keep farmland healthy and productive. So now, 100 per cent of our brewing by-products are diverted from landfill. They are sent to Landtasia, a local organic compost farm. The spent grain is fed to the farm’s cattle and the hops and yeast are turned into organic compost.
“Food waste from our Taproom and compostable cups used at events are also diverted from landfill. We have partnered with local food waste management innovators, Goterra, who process these into valuable insect protein and fertiliser.
The benefit
“Food organics are high in nutrients. By treating food waste as a resource, these nutrients can be returned to the agricultural system.
“Diverting from landfill helps produce more food and replenish the soil while decreasing the need to manufacture and import fertilisers.
“Last year, we diverted 709 tonnes from landfill. This reduced our carbon footprint by 259 tonnes. We have also been able to grow some of the ingredients for our beer in the compost produced from our by-products.
“We feel it’s right to offer our customers a beer that’s not going to contribute negatively to climate change. Keeping things local also reduces emissions and builds employment opportunities for local people.
“Everyone who works at Capital Brewing Co loves our bush capital. We're committed to preserving the environment and we’re finding more and more ways to do this.
“Our tagline is ‘Good Natured Brews.’ From the beginning we’ve always thought about how to make beer sustainably.
“Capital Brewing Co is also the first brewery in Australia to be certified carbon neutral under the rigorous Climate Active scheme.”
The Circular Economy
Capital Brewing Co is an example of the circular economy in action. A circular economy ensures that materials and resources are captured and recirculated, adding value to products that were previously considered waste. This process generates economic opportunities, creating local jobs while designing out waste.
Learn more about the draft ACT Circular Economy Strategy.
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.