Brew Responsibility

"Great Beer, Great Responsibility" term that MillerCoors stands by. My class started its Saturday off at the MillerCoors brewing facility in South Fort Worth. This is one the largest MillerCoors breweries in the United States. Larry Johnson, the Sustainability Engineer is one of the people who gave the tour.

We started at the beginning of the beer making process, getting materials from trucks and rail-cars and went all the way to end- watching pallets move around the warehouse. I was unfamiliar of everything that went into making beer so the tour was a great learning experience. The only downside to the tour, was no photography. 

In regards to sustainability, MillerCoors is making it a priority. They are seeking to be a top sustainability business in the beverage industry like my company: Coca-Cola. In order to do this, MillerCoors has inacted a variety of programs.

One of these programs is highlighted on their sustainability web site.  According to the web site, the company takes wastewater and turns it into energy. "MillerCoors uses wastewater as a source of renewable energy. At our Fort Worth Brewery, we generate biogas from wastewater.  We use the biogas in place of fossil fuels to power our boilers and to generate electricity. "

Another program that MillerCoors has is a unique take on recycling. During the beer-making process, a protein-rich residual is created.  The brewery does not throw this way. Instead they sell it to ranchers who in turn use it to feed cattle. This sustainable effort is my favorite by far.  I love the idea that cows are munching on leftovers from the near-by brewery.  YouTube shows a video of just how much the cows like the spent grain from the brewery.

Much of the efforts at MillerCoors are really interesting. However, I do not see myself feeding cows with my waste-products or taking my used water and creating renewable energy out of it. The brewery did remind me about the need to recycle my cans and cardboard. It showed that big companies do care our environment and the impact they have on future generations. Overall, this was a great experience and the beer tasting was delicious. 


REFERENCES

http://www.millercoors.com/Great-Beer-Great-Responsibility/Home.aspx