Hook Norton Brewery Joins Industry Leaders at Inaugural Sustainability in Brewing Conference

Hook Norton Brewery’s Managing Director, James Clarke, and Lead Brewer, Ed Clarke, recently attended the Chartered Institute of Brewers and Distillers’ inaugural Sustainability in Brewing Conference in Nottingham.

The two-day event gathered over 250 delegates, fostering an environment of learning, sharing, and discussion. Industry leaders and peers engaged in vital conversations, exchanging knowledge and experiences on the path to building a more sustainable future for the brewing industry.

James Clarke shares his insights below on the conference and Hook Norton Brewery’s commitment to sustainability.

“Last week I attended the CIBD Sustainability Conference in Nottingham. A two-day event, a great programme, and a subject close to all of us. It was extremely well organised, great venue – facilities, food, rooms all of a high standard, and an excellent barbecue, accompanied by some fine cask ale – more about the latter later!

Here at Hooky, we have been driving the sustainability agenda – not because we have to, but because we can see what we need to do, and incorporate with this some efficiency savings, and some security. We installed our first solar panels in 2023. Sadly, a year later, they were destroyed in a serious roof fire. We have now installed an array in a field, due to come on stream imminently. In tandem with this, we have installed a new steam boiler, oil-fired, but far more efficient than the one it replaced. We have also moved hot water tanks next to the boiler, so steam distribution pipework is much more efficient. We would have loved to have installed an electric boiler, but the grid infrastructure simply can’t support this as yet. The government’s target of 61% of industry electrified by 2040 simply won’t happen unless a huge increase in investment starts.

But back to the conference, which to me was almost an event of two parts, a clear dichotomy. On one side, those doing work because it is the right thing and can deliver advantages across the business, and then those who, to me, were virtue signalling. You can probably guess the scale of businesses which fell into each category.

The presentation by Mike Barry of Mikebarryeco was a great opener – I agreed with most of what he said, and we know food and drink behaviours need to change. Why has the consumption of fresh fruit dropped? But of his presentation, I believe some 20% of the population are adversely affected on socio-economic grounds – they simply can’t afford some of these foods we need to change to. So, how will that be addressed?

In the afternoon, there were some interesting presentations on water and wastewater, a subject I find fascinating. Some food for thought here. William Bradford incorporated quite an amount of water saving, but 126 years on, there is more we can do.

The second day opened with a bit more focus on the smaller brewer, and a very interesting panel debate – a shame time was short. But enough time to make it very clear the SME businesses, with a more long-term approach, and less driven by shareholder demands, are the ones making the long-term decisions – and surely sustainability implies long term? Great to hear ideas that not only delivered on sustainability but also added value to the business as a whole. No virtue signalling here, but commonsense advice.

We finished on a high, with Charlie Bamforth telling us about Sierra Nevada – I can remember Ken Grossman delivering on their sustainability years ago, and interesting to see their journey – long-term planning and investment for the long term, properly implemented strategy, and proper decisions made for proper reasons.

So we can sit back and do nothing and blame it on countries still burning fossil fuels to generate electricity; we can throw all the rubbish in one bin, as the impact is small. Or we can do what we need to do, what is absolutely the right thing to do, and do it because it is the right thing, not just what we think we should be seen to be doing.

Here at Hooky, we have signed up with Planet Mark, have a core team driving the sustainability, and look forward to now working on our scope 1 and 2; but most importantly, we will continue to make decisions and invest for the long term, driven by that thought process. Now, to start collecting more data and writing a policy.

A great conference, and I came back energised. We will make Hooky one of the most energy-efficient breweries in the world, while still enjoying a fabulous historic building. All Hooky beers are brewed here, always have been, always will be. And I conclude that draught beer in reusable metal containers to local pubs might just be the answer.”