Last July, Trend Hunter reported that Anheuser-Busch was entering the organic beer market. Now, Aussie beer brand, Foster's is looking to hop on the green living wagon. Manufacturers of the Australian brew have been experimenting with scientists at University of Queensland to concoct an eco-friendly beer.
Through the use of sugar-consuming bacteria, the new brewing site turns waste waters into clean energy. With a $115,000 government grant to fund the environmental project, a microbial fuel cell—which works like a battery—was installed at the brewery near Brisbane. The “battery†generates electiricty and clean water after the bacteria feed on brewery wastes like sugar, starch and alcohol. The waste water is biodegradable—it is expected that the waste waters from the brewery cell will produce enough energy to power a regular home. Fosters hopes to see the new advances up and running by September.
They Irish may have coined the term, but the Aussie's innovative “green beer†could gain year-round popularity, not just at St. Patty's day.
What's Driving This Trend
- Eco-friendly Brewing
- There is an opportunity for brewers to explore eco-friendly brewing processes and technologies, as consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious.
- Waste-to-energy
- The conversion of waste into usable energy is a trend that can disrupt various industries, including manufacturing and energy production.
- Microbial Fuel Cells
- The use of microbial fuel cells offers an innovative way to generate electricity and clean water from waste, and could have applications in diverse industries.
Who This Affects Most
- Brewing
- Companies in the brewing industry have an opportunity to use eco-friendly brewing processes and technologies to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
- Wastewater Management
- Industries that generate large volumes of wastewater, such as manufacturing and agriculture, can explore waste-to-energy technologies to reduce waste and generate clean energy.
- Energy Production
- Microbial fuel cells can disrupt the traditional methods of energy production, and could be used in industries such as utilities, transportation and construction.
