A USM program will help craft beverage manufacturers in Maine and Vermont prevent pollution
The University of Southern Maine will receive a grant of $350,000 to help craft beverage manufacturers in Maine and Vermont develop and adopt pollution prevention practices.
The money was awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will go to the New England Environmental Finance Center, which is part of the university’s Catherine Cutler Institute.
The money will go toward helping craft brewers cut back on hazardous chemicals and transition to more sustainable, circular economy packaging, said U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine 1st District, and a ranking member of the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee.
“This funding will provide vital technical support to Maine’s growing craft beverage industry, by helping them to adopt greener, more eco-friendly practices that not only protect our environment but also enhance business efficiency,” said Pingree.
Technical assistance funded by the grant will advance sustainability practices that reduce energy, water and waste as well as chemical use, and provide assessments of in-house chemicals for toxicity and recommendations for transitioning to less hazardous packaging and circular economy solutions as prescribed in the BetterBev recognition program, according to a news release.
Sustainable operations
The New England Environmental Finance Center was established at USM in 2001. The center’s programs include the funding and financing of climate adaptation and resilience; stormwater and watershed management; drinking water infrastructure, wastewater infrastructure, and green infrastructure; and sustainable operating practices for small food and beverage businesses, according to its website.
The center serves Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and New England’s 10 federally recognized Tribal Nations.
In the sustainable operating practices for small food and beverage businesses category, the center helps any craft beverage manufacturer identify and act on opportunities for improved operations, best management and innovative practices, available incentives and community needs. It also supports malthouses, hotels and restaurants do the same.
In addition to technical assistance, the center and its partners have implemented a Green Craft Beverage Recognition Program, also known as BetterBev, a free environmental sustainability program that allows manufacturers committed to operating responsibly to be recognized for their efforts.
Improving sustainability measures include optimizing throughputs of energy, water and other ingredients while improving solid waste and wastewater management.
BetterBev helps craft beverage producers review their facility operations, identify process improvements and reduce business costs. Its sustainability criteria include environmentally responsible sourcing, water usage, wastewater reduction, stormwater management, energy efficiency and conservation, CO2 use and emissions, cleaning and sanitizing, waste reduction, packaging format and materials and environmental culture.
“Every community deserves clean air, safe water, and a healthy environment—and pollution prevention grants help achieve that by reducing waste at the source,” said David Cash, the EPA’s regional administrator. “By adopting smarter and innovative practices that limit the use of toxic materials and conserve resources, these investments are helping our partners to support New England businesses to cut costs, grow sustainably and protect the environment.”
“This funding will allow the NEEFC to continue to support craft beverage manufacturers in Maine and Vermont in their efforts to optimize operations and improve efficiency,” said Luke Truman, the center’s senior program manager.
Pollution prevention
In total, EPA said 48 entities across the country will collectively receive a total of $19 million in grants to support states, Tribal Nations and U.S. territories in providing technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention practices in local communities.
Pollution prevention, also known as P2 or source reduction, is any practice that reduces, eliminates or prevents pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment or disposal. Preventing pollution at the source rather than managing waste afterwards is an important way to support American business’ efforts to reduce costs, while protecting communities from exposure to toxic chemicals and conserving natural resources, according to the EPA.
Between 2011 and 2022, EPA’s Pollution Prevention program issued over 500 grants totaling more than $54 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop and adopt P2 approaches, the EPA said.
The approaches have resulted in 31.9 billion kilowatts in energy savings, eliminated 20.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saved 52 billion gallons of water, reduced 1 billion pounds of hazardous materials and saved businesses more than $2.3 billion.
The agency expects to award funds once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. Once awarded, grantees will document and share pollution prevention best practices that they identify and develop through the grants, so that others can replicate the practices and outcomes. Each grantee will also develop at least one case study during the grant period on practices that are new or not widely known or adopted, or where detailed information on the practices could benefit other businesses or technical assistance providers.
Grants will be funded over a two-year funding cycle and require a cost share/match of 50%.
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