If anyone knows beer, it’s Jason Lowe, president at Craft Beer Association of Hong Kong and the co-founder and general manager of Heroes Beer Co. But when it comes to sustainability, what impact does brewing beer have on the environment?
Traditional beer brewing can be quite unsustainable – requiring up to seven barrels of water to make one barrel of beer, and leaving behind grains and hops as food waste. However, Heroes Beer Co is doing their part in making their business more eco-friendly. One impressive project they worked on this year was taking surplus bread from Cathay Pacific and turning it into beer, for instance.
For our latest edition of ‘8Shades Of‘, we caught up with Jason to find out more about his personal sustainability habits, the veggie dishes he enjoys and how Heroes Beer Co is working to become more planet-friendly.
1. In one sentence, tell us what you do!
We are a local brewery that also serves as a platform, where we unleash the hero within beer lovers, one at a time.
2. Why are you an 8Shader?
I was introduced to 8Shades’ founder, Emily, through a mutual friend of ours, and I love how she stresses that sustainability is not zero or 100. Everyone can do just a little more in areas they’re comfortable with, and together that’ll make a bigger impact. A similar concept I encountered was Green Monday. It’s a lot easier to convince seven people to be vegan one day a week than to convince one person to go full-vegan.
3. Your best eco habit?
I drink local beers over 95% of the time (and I drink many brands, not just our own).
4. Guilty not-so-green habit?
I still eat beef. I rarely have burgers and steaks, but I still can’t give up yakiniku and hotpot.
See also: The Best Vegan Burgers in Hong Kong
5. Fave eco product?
Collapsable coffee cups, and the edible ones too!
6. Fave veggie dish in HK?
I can’t say I’ve tried a lot, but I do like the vegetarian burger from La Casa Burger. And, I often grab the avocado and pine nuts wrap from Pret a Manger when I’m in a rush.
7. How do you incorporate sustainability into your business of making beer?
We’re the first to use cans, which have a higher recycling rate and are lighter to transport and store than glass bottles. We also source locally whenever possible, such as using local lemons to brew a lemonade milkshake IPA. We recently worked with Cathay Pacific Catering Services and brewed a beer with their surplus bread.
8. What shade of green are you and why?
I think I’m right in the middle. I see a lot of people on both sides of me.
Follow Heroes Beer Co on Instagram at @heroesbeerco
Did you know? Heroes Beer is part of our sustainable hampers for him – browse and shop all our sustainable gift hampers here!
