 New Belgium Brewing Company: A Responsible Corporation
“They’re incredible. Every worker gets a mountain bike to bike to work, all their energy comes from renewable and alternative energy, they give generously to civic and community and environmental causes. They really are environmentally responsible, they put a lot of money back into the community, and they take care of their workers.”
A responsible corporation can have a far-reaching impact, but it must foster good relations on the local level. This is exactly what New Belgium Brewing does. In December 2002, the Fort Collins, Colorado based company was named one of the three winners of the Business Ethics Awards awarded by Business Ethics Magazine. The criteria for this award states that winners must have “programs or initiatives in social responsibility that demonstrate sincerity and ongoing vibrancy” and a “significant presence on the national or world scene, so their ethical behavior sends a loud signal”. Business Ethics Magazine recognized New Belgium Brewing for its environmental responsibility. In 1999, the company began to gather 100 percent of its electricity from wind-power in order to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide. Before 1999, the brewery’s electric supply came from a coal plant. Originally the company researched ways to reduce the output of carbon dioxide from the fermentation process. The brewery, however, turned to wind power when they found that it was a more effective means of cutting down carbon dioxide emissions. Employees of the company were willing to make such sacrifices as reduced income in the name of protecting the environment. Besides switching to wind power, the brewery has taken other steps to preserve the environment. The company uses natural draft cooling in its storage area instead of a system that releases glycol. In 2002, New Belgium Brewing installed a biological wastewater facility that cleans the water using digestion ponds. The anaerobic and aerobic ponds produce methane and other products that can be reused. In addition to their environmental responsibility, New Belgium Brewing treats its employees and the surrounding community in an ethical manner. They operate on an open book basis and sponsor community events. In its mission statement, the New Belgium Brewing Company mentions the importance of “kindling social, environmental and cultural change as a business role model” . The actions that New Belgium Brewing has taken to be environmentally and socially responsible determines that this company is a role model for others, and it has been recognized as such.
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