Detailing Yakima Chief Hops’ environmental advocacy and its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint

April is a month we use to remind ourselves to be mindful of Mother Earth. Earth Day has been celebrated each April 22 since the 1970s. So, this month we’ve been noting craft breweries and their suppliers that go the extra mile(s) to embrace environmental stewardship and community outreach. We highlighted Lawson’s Finest Liquids first ever impact report by diving into its five-pillar Social Impact Program. Similarly, we drew attention to Breakthru Beverage Group’s 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility Report. We also encouraged readers to check out all of Allagash Brewing’s Earth Month 2024 initiatives and events — especially the release of its Kernza Lager — which stars all organic ingredients and the Regenerative Organic Certified Kernza perennial grain (which we’ve covered a lot).

Next, let us draw your attention to Yakima Chief Hops — a global leader in the hop industry — which has taken many robust steps forward in environmental stewardship by forging strategic partnerships and spearheading advocacy initiatives aimed at sustainability. These efforts were recently highlighted in a couple of Hopwire Blog posts (one and two) by Levi Wyatt (Yakima’s corporate social responsibility manager) and in the YouTube video post above. From the Hopwire post on environmental advocacy:

In the last year alone, YCH publicly supported ten conservation letters to protect and defend waterways in the Pacific Northwest. These letters helped to support the approval of 4,000 acres of state forest lands managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources to be protected under the Trust Land Transfer (TLT) program. Our friends at Washington Wild secured nearly $20 million for the program, to which six conservation projects were allocated funding. Those projects are in the Olympic Peninsula, Chapman Lake area near Spokane, and the Upper Dry Gulch region near Chelan.  

YCH proudly backed Washington Wild in its collaboration with over 240 diverse stakeholders. Through their joint efforts, which garnered almost 300 public comments solely from our supporters, Washington Wild played a pivotal role in spearheading the grassroots initiative to designate the Cascade, Green, and Napeequa Rivers as Washington State’s inaugural Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW). This significant ORW designation stands as a crucial safeguard, preventing any prospective deterioration of water quality in these rivers. 

“Through the Brewshed Alliance, Washington Wild collaborates with breweries and beer industry businesses to protect our natural world. By signing onto conservation-oriented comment letters, putting together issue-focused beers, and raising funds for Washington Wild, our Brewshed members are contributing to conservation efforts that protect beer’s most valuable resource: clean water.” Chris Chappell, Conservation and Brewshed Manager, Washington Wild. 

These efforts highlight the company’s commitment to not only supplying premium hops but also to promoting ecological health and sustainable practices across the brewing industry. There’s more. The hop farmer and supplier also has a big focus on reducing its carbon footprint. Back in 2020, Yakima Chief Hops announced its then latest solar panel installation for a total of 3,706 solar panels. YCH’s solar array spans across six buildings, covering a total of 70,000 square feet and producing 1,414,766 kWh of electricity annually. YCH is able to capture 15% of its entire electricity demands and offset its annual emissions by 1,000 metric tons, equivalent to providing 170 homes with electricity for one year. That’s awesome, but there’s more.

Yakima Chief Hops recently amplified its commitment to environmental sustainability through a partnership with Zevero — a carbon emissions monitoring software — which enables companies to measure, report and reduce their carbon emissions. This collaboration is part of Yakima Chief’s broader strategy to minimize its carbon footprint and lead the way in eco-friendly practices within the hop industry. The company’s climate strategy includes these goals (info via this Hopwire post):

• Purchase renewable energy through Power Purchase Agreements beginning in 2024.
• Conduct energy audits in our operations to identify potential energy efficiency projects and equipment upgrades.
• Invest in water efficiency efforts to reduce water consumption across all facilities.
• Commit to setting corporate goals in alignment with the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) by 2024.
• Continue to track and report our greenhouse gas emissions annually, with a 2024 focus on indirect emissions occurring in our organization’s upstream and downstream activities.
• Provide full transparency of farm water and carbon footprint information. Growers’ Green Chief score will be impacted by their participation in sustainability initiatives, effective with the 2024 crop year.
• Shift from conventional resource consumption methods by utilizing upcycled agricultural waste products. This strategic move will substantially cut emissions both in our operations and at the farm level.
• Work with growers to identify ways to elevate regenerative agricultural practices that sequester carbon while building soil health.
• Increase annual charitable funding and support towards environmental advocacy groups.
• Support public policy initiatives to accelerate carbon reduction and removal opportunities.
• Invest in research and development to identify emerging carbon capture technologies that could enhance YCH’s carbon reduction efforts.
• Ensure 100% of our packaging materials will be recyclable or compostable by 2025.
• Achieve 100% renewable energy by 2025, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 56%.

This is a great list, which can be applied to almost any type of company, including a craft brewery. Yakima Chief Hops’ dedication to environmental sustainability is evident through both its proactive advocacy programs and ambitious efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. Through strategic partnerships with the likes of Zevero and Washington Wild, Yakima Chief is not only transforming its operations but is also influencing the broader brewing industry towards greener methodologies. As the company continues to pioneer more eco-friendly initiatives, we’ll keep you updated. Until then, enjoy this last video on YCH’s chief commitments…