Situated in Kamikatsu Town, Tokushima Prefecture, “RISE & WIN Brewing Co. BBQ & General Store” operates on the principle that wastage can be minimized by curbing excessive packaging throughout the production, distribution, and sales chain. This eco-conscious company recycles discarded items like fixtures and furniture, using even local citrus peels slated for disposal in their beer brewing process. They are active proponents of the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, using their platform to champion this message worldwide.
In their craft beer factory in Kamikatsu, a town famed for its zero-waste approach, RISE & WIN Brewing Co. has introduced a resource recycling system. They convert waste products like “spent grain” and “concentrated wastewater” into nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer, transforming erstwhile organic waste into valuable assets. They’ve begun cultivating barley using this fertilizer under the “reRise” initiative, launched in September 2021, marking the birth of their sustainable circular economy.
Each brewing process yields close to a ton of spent grain and high-concentration waste fluid, which is swiftly transformed into liquid fertilizer within 24 hours for barley cultivation. This cycle of utilizing brewery waste as liquid fertilizer to grow barley, which then serves as beer’s primary ingredient, is a significant stride towards actualizing their circular economy vision. The liquid fertilizer, laden with lactic acid bacteria and amino acids, is pest-resistant, boosts crop yield, and helps grow crops that are less bitter and sweeter. As of now, about 40 local inhabitants are benefiting from this recycled fertilizer, which has earned a reputation for augmenting vegetable flavors and curbing pest infestations.
