By-Products as Livestock Feed

For decades, farmers across Canada have been benefiting from the use of Labatt’s spent grains and yeast, leftover from the brewing process, as highly nutritious livestock feed. For this reason, Labatt is very careful to ensure that the quality of these materials is not compromised at any point in the brewing process.

Refillable Bottles

Labatt was instrumental in the development and introduction of the Canadian brewing industry’s standard refillable bottle. This modern bottle is sterilized and re-used up to 20 times, and more then 98 per cent of the bottles Labatt sells are returned. Computerized sensors and visual inspections monitor and assess bottles throughout the packaging process to ensure uncompromised quality.

Recycled Aluminum Cans

Aluminum cans are also a popular container choice for Canadians. Using deposits, Labatt ensures cans are regularly reclaimed and recycled. Labatt was responsible for Quebec’s first aluminum can. As well, in partnership with the Quebec government and Labatt’s aluminum supplier, Labatt initiated the development of the province’s first scrap-aluminum recycling operation. Labatt’s introduction of plastic retaining rings has significantly reduced the packaging associated with cans. The retaining rings have been re-designed to break more easily out of concern for wildlife safety.

Reclaimed Beer Converted to Industrial Ethanol

For a variety of reasons, not all of Labatt’s beer production reaches the consumer. Some does not meet the company’s high quality standards, some may be the end of a product line, and some is returned unsold. In Canada, this “rebate beer” is received at Labatt’s London, Ont. facility where a 20,000 liter tank was installed to hold the reclaimed beer. Rather than sending the waste liquid to a wastewater treatment plant, Labatt sends it to be distilled into industrial ethanol. It is estimated that 560,000 liters of beer per year are reclaimed for distillation from Labatt’s Canadian facilities. This saves the municipality from having to treat the liquid in its wastewater treatment facility, and lowers the level of biological oxygen demand (BOD) being discharged into the environment.