Our Mission
Our Mission
A team striving to craft the perfect pint whilst sustaining our focus on how we impact the world around us.
GREEN WAY
Since our humble beginnings in 1993 we have stood by an ethos of being a local sustainable brewery. We continually practice to brew the “green way” with a serious commitment to wind, sun and waste power generation. It’s not just a tag line, it’s a culture in the brewery to seek out innovative solutions, question our materials and processes, harness our environmental assets and routinely look to reduce waste. And it’s a team effort!
DAY-TO-DAY ENERGY ECONOMIES AT THE BREWERY
PROCESS: INTEGRATED CASK WASH AND BEER FILLING SYSTEM
Our integrated cask wash and filling plant commenced in
2017, which saw the development of an integrated cask washing and filling system within an automated hygienic environment. Prior to the system, cask washing was done manually across two stations poorly utilising labour, energy and water.
RESULTS: REDUCE WATER AND WATER CONSUMPTION
The innovative design allows segregation of organic waste and chemical waste. Pre-installation 12,000 litres of liquid organic matter was sent to mains drain weekly. Now initial cask washings are returned to the “Waste Tank” for Anaerobic Digestion use, rinse water is reclaimed from the sterile rinse and water consumption has been reduced by 40% per cask and energy usage reduced by 12%.
PROCESS: SPENT GRAIN CONVEYOR
In 2018 we installed the first of its kind enclosed Spent Grain Conveyor replacing a traditional manual system.
RESULTS: EFFICIENT AND HYGIENIC WASTE REMOVAL FOR AD
The new enclosed conveyor allows the hygienic removal of valuable waste for animal feed or Anaerobic digestion (AD) feed in a safe controlled manner. Marches Biogas is used as a feedstock supply for the local anaerobic digestion facility; Penberth Renewable Power Ltd. The anaerobic digestion facility is located at Withypool Farm, Cleobury Mortimer, only a short distance away from the brewery, producing 800kWh utilised on farm manures and energy crops; including local resources, to generate heat and electricity which can be used on site and/or exported to the national grid.
TECHNOLOGY: GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMP & WIND TURBINE
In 2007 four 100 metre boreholes were sunk providing a constant 11°c of water that is then compressed for heat or reverse cycled for cooling, or both. To enhance the efficiency of the ground source heat pump we installed an 11kw GAIA wind turbine in 2009.
The wind turbine powers about a third of the brewery’s requirements, when the turbine is used to power the compressors that provide heating/cooling from the boreholes, a super-efficient system is created.
TECHNOLOGY: RAINWATER HARVESTING & GREEN ROOF INSTALLATION
A rainwater harvesting system captures surplus rainwater from the extensive roofs of our barrel and bottle store. In addition, we have installed a green roof on The Brewery Tap extension.
RESULTS: REDUCE WATER CONSUMPTION
Grey water from rainwater harvesting is utilised for vehicle washing, general wash-down and toilet flushing. A green roof allows a slower dispersal of rain and controlled run off.
LOOKING GOOD THE SUSTAINABLE WAY...
Our re-brand in 2019 introduced a sustainably sourced, recyclable bottle label and wooden pump clips without plastic backs! We are one of the first in our industry to offer this, leaving behind plastic labels and pump clips. Our POS is also sourced from companies within 50 miles of the brewery. It has taken more resources and considerable time to find the right material and work with the right partners, but it was important to us to find a sustainable solution.
PACKAGING: SOURCING A RECYCLABLE BOTTLE LABEL
Working together with Mercian Labels in Staffordshire, we searched for a sustainable, renewable, self-adhesive paper label. Our previously used polypropylene label is made of non-recyclable plastics. We encountered some issues along the way; filling before labelling on our bottling line meant finding a paper label that could withstand the moisture in this environment.
After many months of research and trials, Mercian sourced a suitable label from Finland. A brand-new paper substrate, Forest Film, had recently been formulated. To produce Forest Film natural oils are extracted from wood pulp as a waste by-product from the paper making process. These oils are converted into a chemical structure which forms the basis of a white and clear Polyolefin wood film self-adhesive material; known as Forest Film.
POS: WOODEN PUMP CLIPS
Prior to our re-brand Hobsons pump clips were printed on non-recyclable plastic. We made the switch in 2019 to wooden manufactured pump clips which are printed using water-based inks by a nearby company in Worcestershire. The change to sustainable branded pump clips and bottle labels shows our commitment to being green goes beyond day-to-day practices at the brewery.
Being kind to the world around us is only possible by applying it to every part of the business. We will continue to improve our Green Business practices. This is down to an innovative team and an all-round commitment to doing things the Green way.
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