Washington Business Spring 2016 | Page 25

what’s working: sustainability Refreshing Environmental Success Taking beer and building to a new, sustainable level, a craft brewer demonstrates how a time-honored cold beverage can take the edge off the climate. employer: Aslan Brewing Company location: Bellingham number of employees: 48 product: Opened in 2014, Aslan Brewing Company takes pride in providing several seasonal and year-round varieties of high-quality, hand-crafted beers made with 100 percent Certified Organic ingredients. As for the name, Aslan is the Turkish word for lion, a powerful and regal figure rooted in nature. innovative environmental stewardship: With a commitment to organic ingredients, locally-sourced goods, and low-impact practices, the owners offer the community something new and refreshing, the sustainable way. The brewery is a Certified B Corporation, which requires a rigorous review and inspection process and takes into account the comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance of the entire business. The environmental footprint of the building is small — from sustainable building practices to purchasing wind energy to offset power consumption used in the brewing process. The steam-fired brewhouse is for more than just product consistency: it also reduces the environmental impact and is a way to recycle the steam expended in the brewing process. For these and other efforts, the federal Environmental Protection Agency recognized Aslan Brewing Company with a Green Power Partnership Certification. in their own words: “Creating a truly green business goes far beyond sustainable raw inputs and outputs. Rather, commitment toward preserving local management, helping our community, and respecting the needs of our workforce are a few of the many elements we believe are what make businesses like ours special. Every decision made at our company, no matter how small it may seem, must be made with a conscious mind. Whether it’s electricity, natural gas, or water, we aim to find the best route to conserve the precious resources we all rely upon.” — Jack Lamb, CEO and owner, Aslan Brewery aslanbrewing.com spring 2016 25