Ecology and Austrian Breweries

ECOLOGY, it's "IN," and about time.

For many, many years, the Austrians and Germans have been aware of the ecological preservation of their own natural resources, and none more than those who live in the alps. Immediately after the second world war, even though they did not have enough fuel to heat their homes or to cook their food, they did not cut down a tree. Rather they combed the woods for every little twig which they could find to heat their homes and cook their Bratwurst and Sauerkraut. Their tradition had always been to preserve nature. Their folk-lore alone believes that trees contributed to good air quality and health. Additionally hunters, fishermen, etc. had, and still have the need for special licenses. These were not issued for sport, but for survival and food for the court Although it had always been political, both for taxes as well as favors from the nobility, licensing did protect the natural resources. Initially only the nobility and their staff had the rights for hunting, fishing, falkonry, wood cutting, etc. just as in earlier centuries only the court breweries could produce Weizenbier. (See "Wheat for Bread").

Over the past decades the alpine folk in particular have seen their forests dissimated, with many forests retaining more dead trees than healthy ones. Even Edelweiss, the flower, found only high in the alps has become of concern. Not only due to the plucking of these delicate flowers for love (See "Edelweiss the Flower," and "Edelweiss in Exile"), but also because of smog and contaminated air, the flowers have become extremely scarce.

And now to beer and breweries, and their emphasis on ecology. From personal experience I can best refer to two Austrian breweries, Hofbräu Kaltenhausen, and the Zipfer brewery, although I feel confident that they all are concentrating on preservation and recycling.

Hofbräu Kaltenhausen

It's more than a brewery, it's part of the culture of the community:

and

Brewery Zipf

Nature as a Partner: An Ecological balance*

Besides the preservation of the historic facade of the original "prewstubl" (Brewery Gasthaus), the small, gothic chapel, and the creation of a new museum, the Bindereimuseum with its collection of the unique hand-tools of the craftsmen of the past, recycling every aspect of the beer industry has become a major emphasis in Kaltenhausen. In their estimation, within the past years their efforts represent a model of ecological preservation.

Energy: In 1986 the brewery moved its power consumption from heating-oil to the more efficient natural gas, reducing the harmful, air-poluting sulfur-dioxide.

Water: Waterways were always a major form of transportation for goods and people. One such is the river Salzach, which runs from the alps, past the brewery in Kaltenhausen to Salzburg and beyond. Furthermore, the pure alpine springs, trickling down from Dürrenberg (an old celtic community above the Hallein) to the brewery provided the basis for the brewing of their beer. To-day most of Europe's waterways have been seriously contaminated by industry and over population. This is in the former West Germany, not to mention the total contamination of the surface and ground in Eastern Germany during the Russian domination. Since 1975 Kaltenhausen has reduced its waste-water by one-half, and in 1990 they installed a waste-water purification system at a cost of ca. $800,000.00. That system was only for waste-water purification as it returns to normal use, and has no connection with the pure alpine springs which feed the brewery. All of the Austrian and German breweries have reduced their water useage significantly. The waste-water in Kaltenhausen has been reduced by ca. 8 %, and the total water useage by ca. 44 %. Zipf has reduced it water useage by ca. 10 %, and their waste water by ca. 7 % since 1991.

Electric Power: The brewery Kaltenhausen has reduced its useage of electricity by approximately one-third within the past decade and furthermore they themselves produce about 10% of their present power from their own hydro-electric plant. Zipf has done this by ca. 3 %.

Paper waste: Most, if not all, of the Austrian and German breweries have eliminated the elegant foil coverings over the caps of the bottles. Documented from a Zipf brewery brochure, Zipf alone has saved ca. 10 tons of material per year with this single move, but comparable savings are applicable to Kaltenhausen as well as the total Brau A.G.,

Recycling: Above we have concentrated on conservation by the breweries, of which both Hofbräu Kaltenhausen as well as the brewery at Zipf has most certainly excelled. Now to recycling, a single aspect which we can all understand, and partake. If only we all would be sufficiently aware, and realize the significance of this "small" item. Don't throw your empty bottles out of your car window, - you were drinking and driving? That's "OUT"

DRINK SAFELY and RECYCLE!

Both breweries personally promote and recycle items such as broken glass, plastic, paper, metal, etc. as do normal individuals, but the breweries have gone well beyond this in their individual operations., concentrating on a total recycling program for themselves and their employees. For the past two years, Zipf has had new 6-pac holders. With their new design they have saved approximately 200 ton of material per year. Of note, the 6-pac holders in Austria are generally returned with the empties, and the holders are then recycled by the brewery itself. Again a sizeable and relatively costly endeavour. Furthermore, these new 6-pac holders are more economical to store and transport. The beer trucks can now carry 50 % more cargo, which in itself saves ca. 100,000 miles of traffic per year on the crowded highways, and obviously a savings, not only in gasoline, but also on its bi-products and polutants.

Beer cans are also recycled. However, in a recent survey, 72 % of those surveyed never purchase beer in cans for home use, and women object more to these than men, 78 % to 68 %.

Returnable bottles: In Austria and Germany the bottles are returned to the breweries, thoroughly washed, sanitized, and refilled. This is in contrast to our method of breaking the bottles, and reproducing new, pristine bottles. Without going into the cost and economics, consider that most of our major U.S. breweries are moving in this direction also, using this European recycling process for many of their bottles, especially those used in bars and restaurants. Why should we then complain at seeing a somewhat scuffed, recycled bottle on the shelf of a liquor store or supermarket? Despite this concept, we still receive constant complaints from California to Nevada to Connecticut and the east coast.

Most importantly, during the brewing process, the husks of the grains, the surplus yeast sediment, and other food/grain waste products are processed as fodder, food for the animals.

Green earth: Hofbräu Kaltenhausen plants over 100 trees yearly by the highway and vicinity near their brewery. What is more beautiful than a "yellow brick road" tunneling through a tree-shadowed pass. Be aware that the major highway (not Autobahn) divides the existing brewery. The Austrians and Germans have a real passion for 'frischer Luft" (fresh air), and believe that it comes from the juxtaposition of many trees with people's habitats.

Health and sport: Moving away from ecological per se, with more emphasis on health and well-being, the breweries support sports activities from all forms of sports for the brewery workers, and professional teams (skiing, hockey, soccer, bowling, tennis, Berg-wandering, etc.). I doubt if many brewery workers ever reach the Olympics, - they drink more beer than I do. However, support is support, and the Edelweiss Cup, and the Alpine Ski Weltmeister Cup represent some of Kaltenhausen's support. Zipfer, the beer, is the official sponsor of the Austrian Olympic teams, both summer and winter, as well as having sponsored the Grand-prix in Linz, and a national tennis tournament in Kitzbühel, both in 1945.

Well from ecology through health to sport, we have not really departed from our topic. However, concluding with a note on ecology, we are making progress, albeit slowly. From less air-polution to cleaner waterways, our world, our earth, needs our support, and the breweries are contributing their share, probably much more than we even know. So with your next beer, remember that the breweries have helped you to contribute to a safer world, ecologically speaking! And don't forget,

ECOLOGY IS "IN!"
and Nature is our Partner

*This information is excerpted from two brochures published by the Brau A.G., primarily one from Hofbräu Kaltenhausen, and the other from the Zipf brewery. The emphasis is on Kaltenhausen, unless specifically noted otherwise.

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