Sustainability
caring for our planet
Beer has an ecological footprint. That's simply a fact. Being aware of it already takes you a long way.
Ecological footprint
Stijn - makes sure everything ferments, matures, rolls and flows
"Beer has an ecological footprint. At St.Bernardus we examine every step of our production process. Where can it be more efficient, more local, more sustainable? Greenwashing? Not our thing!"
The footprint in figures
0,24 kg
CO₂ per 33 cl bottle = the same as a 1 km car ride
6L
Water to produce 1 L of beer. Water is an ingredient, but it is also needed at every step of the production process: malting, rinsing, cooling, cleaning, etc.
40%
Share of packaging in total CO₂ emissions
Growing barley and hops
Requires land and energy
Transport
= approx. 15% of the footprint. The further, the higher
A cold beer
From the fridge at home or at the pub is not CO₂-neutral
Short food supply chain
Hop farmers Bart Boeraeve & Annebel Vandenbroucke from Poperinge
"Our hop field lies a stone's throw from the brewery. A large part of our harvest ends up in St.Bernardus beers. The short chain in its most direct form! No middlemen, no long-distance transport. Just: locally grown, locally brewed. And you can taste it. Together with St.Bernardus we focus on quality, craftsmanship and pride in our region. Because Poperinge hops are not just an ingredient, they're a piece of Belgian beer culture!"
Poperinge, home of hops
Belgian farmers have been growing hops for centuries. Once spread across the country, today it is mainly in and around Poperinge. Some 17 hop growers here jointly account for 80% of Belgian hop production, covering more than 150 hectares of hop fields.
Spent grain
Bernadette, passionate ruminant from Watou: "Every time St.Bernardus brews beer, I know: it's going to be a good day. Because then I get spent grain! What's left over for the brewer in the lauter tun is pure pleasure for me. Fresh, nutritious and delicious. Short chain, you say? Here it really is short. From beer to farmer to cow!"
Belhop
Between the hop fields in Poperinge and the brew kettles in Watou lies barely three kilometres. Hop grower Bart Boeraeve (5th generation) and Anthony Vanhove, production manager at St.Bernardus, show what that proximity makes possible: experimenting with new hop varieties, joining forces on climate resilience and irrigation, and keeping the story of hops and beer alive in the city of good living. Small in the hop world, big where it counts.
Did you know that Bart & Annebel are happy to welcome you for a visit to their farm?
Derycke hop farm
The hop field right next to the brewery is the result of the craftsmanship of the Derycke family. With Anne-Laure De Tavernier and Chris Derycke, a new generation is ready to continue their life's work. In this video, Anne-Laure takes you from A to Z through every season of hop cultivation. Did you know that their farm is also open for visits?
Saving energy and water
Anthony - tastes, smells and fine-tunes until every brew is perfect
"Our brewery is investing heavily to save as much water and energy as possible. The new filling and packaging line is impressively fast and efficient. And our most surprising solution? That's our phytoparking!"
Litres of water, tonnes of energy saved
3500 m³
Less water per year thanks to the new rinsing machine
1400
Solar panels on the roof, we generate 25% of our own electricity
100%
Toilets run on rainwater, collected on the brewery site
Heat recovery
The steam from boiling the wort heats water for other processes in the brewery
Phytoparking
Our natural car park purifies wastewater through reed beds
Behind the scenes
Sixteen litres of water for one litre of beer in the past, six today and there's still room to improve. Anthony Vanhove, production manager at St.Bernardus, explains how sustainability and efficiency go hand in hand. To him, working more efficiently doesn't mean faster or harder, but calmer: more time for the same tasks, the same quality, and people who start their day well prepared. With a new filling line, targeted training and strong ownership on the work floor, the brewery looks ahead with confidence, both in production and in sustainability.
Packed, dispatched and enjoyed all over the world
Katrien - keeps an eye on supplies to every customer
"Beer lovers drink our beers in more than 80 countries around the world! We're proud of that. But that medal has a flip side. Transport increases our ecological footprint. We do our best to turn the tide. In our packaging too. We're banning single-use plastic step by step. That's how we make the shift to 100% reusable or recyclable materials."
Packaging and transport with less impact
One way kegs
100% recyclable, no return needed, lower CO₂ emissions
Returnable bottles
Our 33 cl bottles are cleaned and refilled, time after time
Cardboard & labels
Belgian production, recycled materials where possible, FSC-certified
A region and its beer, stronger together
Pieter - puts St.Bernardus on the map, from pub to campaign
"As a brewery, we are firmly rooted in the Westhoek. We are warmly attached to this region and believe our role goes beyond doing business alone. We're happy to put our name to use in support of local associations and events."
From Dranouter tot the coast, we're part of the fun
The Westhoek is bursting with events. And we love being part of the experience! With our own bar stands, we take Festival Dranouter, the St.Bernardus Feesten Nieuwpoort and the Poperinge Beer Festival to the next level. Here, St.Bernardus is more than beer, it brings people together and creates genuine connection.
Stronger together, also in assembly
Our gift packs take shape at Forena (formerly Sowepo), a social enterprise from Poperinge. They deliver precision work with a big heart, while we offer a long-term partnership that makes a difference on the work floor and in the region.
Pay it forward
We support dozens of local associations with beer, with equipment or with manpower. Sometimes all at once. The proceeds from our own events often flow back to organizations such as vzw De Lovie and vzw De Letterhop, which give people with additional care needs every opportunity to thrive. .
Elke - turns every St.Bernardus experience into a warm welcome, from Bar to Guesthouse
"Our beers are deeply rooted in our region: we brew with our own yeast, our own groundwater and locally grown hops. In our visitor offer too - from Bar Bernard to the Brewery Tour, Flagship Store, Guesthouse Brouwershuis and bike rental - we resolutely choose short chains and strong partnerships with local makers and tourism partners. From Watou to the world: that's our mission!"
Come and discover it for yourself in Watou!
Discover all the ways to visit our brewery via the link below.
