Many of us find amusement from drinking a green beer on St. Patrick’s Day, but imagine how much more fun it would be to know that beers can actually be eco-friendly!
Here are a few things you can do to make sure you are reducing your carbon footprint this year:
1. Drink Local
Shipping beer ingredients across the country and around the world affects pollution, which is why choosing locally brewed beverages is your best bet. There are even craft brewers who use heat from the brewing process to heat office spaces! Some brewers even use spent grain as a co-fuel for beer production, which ultimately reduces energy consumption by as much as 70 percent every year. There are so many positive outcomes to drinking locally, so why not benefit your local brewers at the same time?
The Downtown Columbus Brewery Tour begins on April 4 and lasts through June 27. Take advantage of this awesome event and learn more about your favorite beverage. While on a tour, one can expect to learn how beer is made, a lesson on the history of each brewery, and some interesting notes on unique beer style and taste.
2. Keg it up!
Did you know rented beer kegs are reused about twice a month? They’re durable enough to last two decades! When we use them, we’re using 58,000 fewer beer cans and bottles every year. So grab all of your friends and enjoy a keg together!
3. Recycle and Reuse Bottle Caps
This one is a little obvious, but many of us forget to throw our cans into recycling bins after one too many drinks. An aluminum can will likely be recycled and back on the shelves within 60 days. The cardboard box casing to your 12-pack needs to be recycled, as well! So take the box off of your buddy’s head, and place it into the recycling bin. And for all of you crafty, self-proclaimed designers, hold onto those bottle caps and create something awesome like this:
Or this:
4. Say Goodbye to Disposable Cups
Yes, it takes a small amount of resources to clean your cups, but that does not mean it is okay to use disposable cups! Most plastic cups are unrecyclable (meaning they head to the landfill, where they’ll stay for a very, very long time). Reusable cups are overall more sustainable and there are more than enough of them already in existence! Let’s take advantage of that.
I hope these few tips help you all go green while drinking this holiday away. Happy St. Paddy’s Day!
What are some other things you do to help out the environment?
