Lesson 2 - Environmental Sustainability
In this lesson we will discuss key ways to understand and improve the sustainability of brewery operations. This will include understanding the global context for sustainability, the key environmental sustainability impacts of producing beer and opportunities for improving the sustainability of beer and brewing operations.
Lesson Sign-off
This lesson dealt with the environmental sustainability of brewing beer. It outlined how beer and its brewing are inseparably linked to the environment that they are part of and the resources needed to brew it. It also discussed how we have a negative environmental impact if we do not responsibly manage our operations. It also provided awareness that due to human activities, our environment is undergoing drastic and exponential change.
As responsible brewers, or just as people who love beer, it is imperative we minimise the negative impacts our operations have and increase the positive impacts. By using sustainable business and brewing practices we can save costs, reduce our environmental impacts, increase the longevity of our operations and improve the perceptions of our customers. Everyone wins!
You should now be able to:
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Understand the global context for sustainable development.
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Understand the key drivers of climate change, its impacts and mitigation opportunities.
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Describe key environmental impacts of brewing that can be controlled or reduced; especially water and energy use and waste.
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Describe the management techniques available to increase environmental sustainability of brewery operations such as water and energy use.
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Identify opportunities for innovation that reduce environmental impact from brewing.
Happy sustainable brewing!
A self-assessment lesson will now follow. This will give you the opportunity to determine the level to which you have met these learning outcomes.