From Ska:
Durango, CO – In alignment with the 2024 Earth Day theme "Planet vs Plastics," Ska Brewing is proud to announce significant advancements in our sustainability initiatives, underscoring their commitment to environmental responsibility and innovative brewery practices.
As pioneers in the craft brewing industry, Ska has consistently led efforts to minimize environmental impact. The brewery has long utilized recycled materials—from jeans used as insulation to reclaimed bowling alley wood for tables to early adoption of infinitely recyclable aluminum cans for beer packaging— and set industry standards for environmental stewardship. And just this year, the brewery doubled their investment in Colorado-grown grain, which now comprises 85% of Ska’s total malt usage.
Innovative Packaging Transformation
In a groundbreaking move, Ska has installed the CanCollar® Corsair™ machine, a first in North America for craft breweries, provided by sustainable packaging leaders WestRock. This state-of-the-art technology allows the brewery to transition from plastic can collars to paperboard solutions, dramatically reducing plastic usage by up to 95% for their multipack products. This transition is eliminating approximately four tons of plastic waste annually, significantly reducing the brewery's carbon footprint and waste.
Skampost Partnership with Table to Farm Compost
Building on their efforts to achieve a zero-waste goal, Ska Brewing has partnered with Durango’s Table To Farm Compost to repurpose all spent grain from the brewing process. Previously used as cattle feed or sent to landfills, their spent grain will now be composted, helping to reduce methane emissions—a potent greenhouse gas. This partnership not only supports local agriculture, but also promotes circular economy practices by transforming brewing byproduct into valuable compost for community use.
Community and Environmental Impact
"Ska Brewing has never been content with the status quo," says Ska Brewing President Dave Thibodeau. "Our initiatives are about setting new benchmarks for sustainability in brewing. With these new systems, we are making significant strides towards becoming a zero-waste facility and further reducing our environmental footprint. This Earth Day, we are excited to demonstrate how the beer industry can lead in the fight against plastics and for the planet."
Ska invites their community and fellow brewers to join them in this vital movement towards more sustainable practices. Look for new QR codes on all of Ska’s cans for more information about their sustainability efforts and Earth Day initiatives, including opportunities to win upcycled merchandise from companies like Mindy’s Beer Gear and Thread Metal Stone.
ABOUT SKA BREWING
Founded in 1995, Ska Brewing is a pioneer in the craft brewing industry, committed to producing the highest quality beer while advocating for environmental sustainability. Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing continues to lead with innovative practices and community-oriented initiatives, striving to support the planet and its people. For more information, please visit www.skabrewing.com.
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