Truth in Packaging podcast transcript: Cheri Chastain

GPI: I recently read Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. considers resourcefulness a philosophy. What is meant by “resourcefulness” and how has that philosophy helped to steer your company over the past 30 years?

Chastain: For us at Sierra Nevada, resourcefulness basically means thinking outside of the box and working with what we have. So, utilizing our materials and resources efficiently in a way to not be wasteful and coming up with creative uses for discards or old materials from other operating principals. A good example is our initial brewery was founded using recycled dairy equipment and an old soda bottling line. So, being very resourceful with other company’s old, discarded materials. That has carried us through the past 30 years and continues on today.

GPI: Thanks, Cheri. Tell us about some of the different alternative energy technologies Sierra Nevada uses.

Chastain: Sure. The first one that we installed here at Sierra Nevada is the fuel cell system and that consists of four hydrogen fuel cells. Each one of them is 300 kilowatts for a total of 1.2 megawatts. The fuel cells are using natural gas to produce electricity and then we are co-generating steam with the exhaust that’s leaving the fuel cells. The fuel cells cover about 50 to 55 percent of the energy needs for the plant with the added benefit of steam recycled back to offset the demand we place on the boilers.

We then installed a large solar system. At this point, we have 1.9 megawatts of PV solar systems here. We have a total of 10,000 panels. The solar panels pick up the additional 50-plus percent of our electricity demand during peak hours. So, during peak summer hours we’re typically contributing back to the grid; however, over the course of a whole month or even a year, we’re averaging about 85 percent self-generation on-site.

We also have a biogas recovery system where we are recovering the biogas from our wastewater treatment facility and utilizing that as a fuel source within our boilers on site.

GPI: These are some really exciting endeavors. What’s the consumer response to these alternative energy and sustainability initiatives?

Chastain: When the consumers are aware of what we have going on here and the extent of our sustainability program, they are definitely impressed. The feedback is always positive. Everybody is very impressed with what we have going on and fully support our sustainability program.

GPI: What environmental benefits do they provide to consumers who purchase your beers?

Chastain: In my opinion, it’s kind of a satisfaction for them to purchase a product and support a company that is potentially in line with their environmental and sustainability values and objectives. I know in my personal experience I prefer to purchase products from companies that are responsible and are working on a reduced environmental footprint. I think our consumers probably feel the same way.

GPI: Sierra Nevada uses only glass packaging and kegs for its line of craft and specialty brews. Why glass?

Chastain: Glass definitely preserves the quality of our beverage. The glass is good quality, keeps oxygen out really well, reduces light and contamination of the product, and the recyclability of glass is fabulous. It’s an easily recyclable material and it’s easy to get high content of recycled glass within a new bottle.

GPI: Approximately how many tons of glass does Sierra Nevada divert from landfills each year for recycling?

Chastain: It obviously depends on the year, but roughly 300 tons of glass a year is diverted from landfill from recycling and collection.

GPI: That’s fabulous. Tell us about your programs to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Chastain: Reduce, reuse, and recycle really applies to every single department and every single facet of our operation from the offices to production to packaging and transportation and then expanding into our restaurant and concert venue. We collect multiple items around the plant and give them to other people to reuse or reuse them internally. We’re constantly working on reducing the amount of natural resources that we’re actually consuming, so reducing the amount of water or energy or packaging—using what we have resourcefully, reducing what we’re bringing in, and then recycling those products that we can’t find homes for or that can’t be reused. We look for recycling markets to get these items back into the production circle.

GPI: We just spoke with Cheri Chastain, Sustainability Coordinator at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. For more information about Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., please visit www.sierranevada.com. I’m Kristen LeKander with this month’s “Inside Glass Packaging” from The Glass Packaging Institute.