Hello again, we hope you are having a great summer!
It's been a while since we caught up, but we're back with some updates on the sustainability side of Lacuna. Alongside working to brew the best beer we possibly can, we've also been hard at work to improve our sustainability and ultimately reduce our footprint as much as we can. In this post, we'll explore how we're reducing our environmental impact through water conservation, energy efficiency, waste reduction and responsible sourcing. Additionally, we'll delve into some specific initiatives, such as utilising an electric delivery service and partnering with a local community interest company to plant woodland, both of which further help us reduce our footprint and boost biodiversity.
Water conservation:
We all know that water is a scarce and precious resource, and we want to optimise our usage. Through careful monitoring, process optimisation, and equipment upgrades, we've been able to change the way we use water across the brewery. One major improvement has been the addition of newly installed flooring and an upgraded drainage system. This ensures that cleaning and water management are more efficient, reducing usage in one of the most water intensive areas of the brewing process.
Energy efficiency:
Minimising energy consumption is crucial for sustainable brewing. At Lacuna, we've invested in energy-efficient equipment to reduce our carbon footprint. By incorporating LED lighting and consolidating our chilling system, we're able to operate more efficiently and decrease our energy demands. Moving from individual cooling on each fermenter to a fully integrated system has meant a reduction in electricity usage and a more efficient process to remove heat and maintain temperature across all of our tanks.
Waste reduction and recycling:
Through our comprehensive waste management program, we focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling. Spent grains, a byproduct of brewing, are used as animal feed by local farmers, supporting the circular economy. We actively engage in recycling initiatives for packaging materials like cans and cardboard, while encouraging our customers to participate in these efforts. By minimising waste, we aim to create a cleaner and more sustainable brewing process.
Responsible sourcing:
Sourcing ingredients responsibly is key to our sustainability commitment. We strive to source organic and sustainable ingredients where possible, ensuring the highest quality while minimising our environmental impact. For instance, UK hops are now a viable alternative to some of the more punchy aromatic hops from the US or New Zealand. Using UK hops where possible reduces the need for air-freight creating a significantly lower carbon footprint and supporting local farmers as well.
Electric delivery:
For local deliveries our electric van not only decreases our transportation footprint but also supports the local community by promoting cleaner air and reducing noise pollution. In our endeavour to reduce carbon emissions further, we have partnered with an electric delivery service for transporting beer beyond our own delivery area. Promoting the same benefits across Cornwall that we can offer to our local clients.
Tree-planting partnership:
To further enhance our sustainability, we have partnered with PlantOne Cornwall, an organisation dedicated to reforestation and ecological restoration. By participating in tree planting initiatives, we actively contribute to reforestation efforts in Cornwall. Trees play a vital role in carbon sequestration, improving air quality, and supporting biodiversity. Our collaboration with PlantOne Cornwall allows us to offset our environmental impact and contribute to the creation of a greener and healthier Cornwall. Alongside this we have recently implemented a scheme to expand our tree planting with international partners and will now expand planting further, in addition to our existing partnership with PlantOne Cornwall.
We know that there is a lot more that we can do and that we, like many others, are simply at the start of our journey to being a fully sustainable business. But we will always put sustainability at the core of all of our decisions and will continue to try to innovate and grow in a responsible and thoughtful way.
Team Lacuna x