Talking Sustainability in Malting

We asked her about key challenges when it comes to malt production.

“The main thing is that the malting process will always be energy-intensive,” she says.

“Here at Crisp Malt, everyone in the business is highly conscious of the responsibilities that go with this. The tight operational controls certainly help, making everything as efficient as possible and reducing or eliminating waste. But it is the transition away from the reliance on natural gas that will make the most significant difference.”

According to the Maltsters Association of Great Britain, the UK malting industry is directly responsible for around 300,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year. That’s equivalent to the emissions produced by diesel cars traveling 1,125 million miles. And that’s for production alone.

Add to it the even greater emissions from farming – in the growing and delivering the raw materials – and the haulage of malt around the country, and it’s a small wonder that maltsters are keen to find ways of significantly reducing their carbon footprint.

Pilots in the malting sector include those generating power from biomass and waste produced on site, as well as trialing alternative sustainable fuels for HGVs.

“Our colleagues in production, engineering and transport are keeping a keen eye on the outcomes from these and similar initiatives in other industries,” says Ellie.

As someone whose job is all about sustainability, Ellie says it is reassuring to find fuel and energy so high on the company agenda, and that Jake (Lambert) and his team are on the case.

In a future blog we’ll be talking to Ellie about the Sustainability Report, and some of the other initiatives the company is taking to support its net zero goals. And we’ll take a look at sustainability and farming, an enormous and fascinating topic in its own right, and of course a crucial part of our supply chain.

In the meantime, take a look at the Sustainability in Brewing blog by award-winning beer writer Will Hawkes.