From Vision To Reality – Tailoring Sustainability Solutions For Breweries, Distilleries And Wineries

Anyone working in the process industries will be well aware of the range of challenges facing their sector. Whether it’s tightening regulations and commercial requirements to increase the efficiency of operations, or consumer demand for greater sustainability, accountability and quality of the products, it’s clear there is much work ahead to adapt and future-proof. 

Most companies are now fully mindful of the need to manage their resources in a better way, but the high upfront costs of sustainable technology are often a deterrent to investment. As consumer expectations evolve and sustainability increasingly becomes a ‘license to operate’, the industry can no longer afford to treat sustainability as a ‘nice to have’.

With the ever-increasing availability of innovative technology, from energy-efficient equipment to AI-based production management tools, there are a number of options available to businesses looking to improve the sustainability of their operations.

However, many struggle to implement these technologies cohesively, often leading to bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Recognising the internal business processes which our clients have to go through to achieve their goals, where necessary providing guidance & support, has always been the NIRAS way.

Sustainability: A bubbling challenge

Like most process industries, beverage manufacturers are significant consumers of water and energy, so it’s vital that they reduce consumption and manage these resources more effectively to meet sustainability goals.

When approaching such a complex issue, it’s important to recognise that sustainability is not just about being kinder to the environment, it’s also about delivering operational and cost-saving efficiencies.

At NIRAS, we’re seeing a big trend towards decarbonisation and more energy-efficient production. Increasing regulatory pressure means that many manufacturers will already have their own net zero targets and companies now recognise that they must reduce their carbon footprint.

As we explored in our recent report ‘Decarbonisation in the process industries: What can manufacturers do now?’, decarbonisation is moving beyond an economic imperative to become a strategic business move as more stakeholders increasingly value sustainability. As a result, more businesses are implementing realistic roadmaps in their journey to reduce carbon emissions.

Water is another key area of focus. Breweries are one of the biggest consumers of water per unit of product, but with the right strategies in place, companies can significantly reduce their water usage. This is where a cohesive approach to sustainability is vital because reusing resources such as heat or steam elsewhere in the brewing process can help to reduce both water and energy consumption.

A circular approach

The circular economy is beginning to play a more central role in the transformation and future proofing of these industries. While many companies still approach sustainability in a disjointed way, with each challenge requiring its own unique solution, manufacturers need to focus on integrating sustainable practices into every part of their supply chain – from raw materials sourcing to waste management.

Viewing sustainability beyond financial metrics is essential to this process. The journey from field to fork (or glass) requires collaboration, so businesses must shift from seeing sustainability purely as a cost, to viewing it as an opportunity for innovation and growth.

A more holistic approach, which considers all parts of the process – energy, waste, water and carbon – in tandem, will help to maximise efficiencies and reduce risk, while increasing transparency and accountability across the industry.

Action in practice

Each business and facility has its own set of challenges when it comes to implementing this approach in practice.

This is certainly true for those involved in breweries, distilleries and wineries, which each face their own nuances when it comes to adapting existing facilities. The size, age and location of each facility will pose its own headaches, as well as the type of product being produced and specific market demands, which continue to shift at a rapid pace.

Tackling this complexity to deliver more sustainable operations begins with a thorough grasp and understanding of the company’s operations. At NIRAS, we have more than 40 years of experience in process industries across the globe, from feasibility studies to implementation and compliance.

This supplier-agnostic approach means that we can draw upon experiences across a range of sectors to bring fresh perspectives into the beverage industry. For example, borrowing energy efficiency strategies from the food production industry or applying automation techniques used in pharmaceutical manufacturing has developed cross-industry learnings to create more unique and effective solutions.

Of course, sustainability isn’t the only consideration facing decision-makers. Advances in technology, consumer behaviours, legislation and other market forces all have a role to play in future proofing a company. Sustainability is just one part of these more comprehensive strategies to create more integrated services and improve project delivery – finding the skillset and experience to implement this is absolutely vital.

What is clear is that sustainability can no longer be ignored or taken lightly. Companies have an increasing array of smart technologies and innovative solutions to design facilities that can adapt to renewable energy and green fuels, so taking an end-to-end view of a supply chain will be vital to future-proof businesses.

For more information about NIRAS, visit www.niras.com