It's the yeast we can do: Untapping Sustainability Trends in Australian Craft Breweries
File version
Version of Record (VoR)
Author(s)
Manwa, Farai
Sen, Suman
Wilde, Simon
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract
Beer is a product with a simple core recipe: malt, yeast, hops and water. The transformation of these ingredients in varying proportions and application of varying brewing techniques into alcoholic beverage represents a multi–million dollar beer industry. The entry of craft beers into the industry has further expanded the range of beer styles available in the market. In Australia alone, the beer industry produced more than 18 million hectolitres in 2015, generating more than AUD$4.8 billion in revenue. While the overall consumption of beer in Australia is decreasing, the craft beer industry has achieved double–digit growth rates over the last five years (IBISWorld, 2015). In general, beer is perceived as a sustainable product as the main ingredients are naturally and organically produced (Schaltegger, Viere & Zvezdov, 2012). However, the impressive volume of beer production and consumption in Australia and elsewhere comes at a cost. It employs a brewing process that is very water and energy–intensive, thereby leaving a relatively large carbon footprint on the environment through contamination of nearby soil and water bodies, and emission of anthropogenic gases in the air (Fish, 2015). From an academic perspective, very limited research on sustainability in entrepreneurial craft breweries has been undertaken and is mostly US–centric. As far as the authors are aware, no other study has been undertaken to date that explores sustainability practices in craft breweries in Australia. This paper explores sustainability activities in the craft beer industry using a qualitative research approach based on secondary data and examines current practices to improve the environmental sustainability performance.
Journal Title
Journal of Asia Entrepreneurship and Sustainability
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
XII
Issue
2
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
DOI
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
© 2016 Journal of Asia Entrepreneurship and Sustainability published by RossiSmith Academic Publications. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Small Business Management
Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services