Impact of

Distilleries and
Breweries on
Environment
Presented By:
Miss Emelia D’ Silva

S.Y.B.A. [A] Roll No. 12

 Table of Contents

Preface 3

Introduction 4

How is alcohol made? What are its multiple uses? 5

The Negative impact of Distilleries and Breweries 7

Case Study- The UB Group 9

What are the environmental responsibilities of corporate

distilleries? 11

Conclusion 14

Synopsis 15

Bibliography and Webliography 17

 Preface

St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, each year conducts a seminar as part of the Honors
Program associated with the college. This year the Department of Economics has
declared the theme of the seminar to be “Biodiversity of Economics”. For this purpose a
study on Distilleries and Breweries has been conducted.

The views expressed in the paper are in my personal capacity and are not aimed at
particularly harming or defaming any individual or organization.

While compiling this assignment I have been helped by my parents and professors. I owe
my thanks to Dr. Agnelo Menezes, Accociate Professor of the Dept. of Economics in
St. Xavier’s for providing a letter from the college without which filed work would be
impossible. Also thank Mr. Yeats D’ Costa for having assisted me on my industrial visit
to various manufacturing units.

Emelia D’ Silva
 Introduction:

Industrialization today, is unavoidable. Progress in industries is rapid and with it, the
need for innovation in techniques to reduce the harmful effects of waste that these
industries create has also increased. There has been a surge in bio resource technology
since recent times which is developing novel ideas to recycle waste emitted from
factories, which often leads to polluting the agro industry, soil and water bodies.

Correctly treaded waste can often prove useful. In India there is growing number of
alcohol consumers and as of date, India has a considerable amount of distillery units,
where molasses and impure alcohol are still being used as raw materials to produce
consumable liquor. Statistics confirm the number of distilleries in India to be as many as
290 at present. The waste water or sludge discharged from distilleries contains huge
quantities of dissolved organic matter, heavy metals, dyes etc. along with other
pollutants. These harmful substances when let into the water bodies without proper
treatment handicaps aquatic life and also degrades quality of water and land. As per the
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF),
Government of India, alcohol distilleries are listed at the top of the ‘Red Category’
industries having a high polluting potential.

The paper will highlight the impact of distilleries, with case studies on a few distilleries
in India and abroad (United Kingdom) and methods to reduce this impact. Several
alcohol manufacturing units are already in the process of making best of their wastes
generated while many others are yet to follow suit.
 How is alcohol made? And what are its multiple uses?

Consumable alcoholic spirits are manufactured through the process of distillation and
milder forms through the process of brewing and fermentation. Also called as distilled
spirits these can be produced from a large number of materials such as fermented mashes
of cereal grain, fermented fruit juices, sugarcane juice, molasses, honey and cactus juice.
The base material is the made to react chemically with yeast to produce ethanol (also
known as ethyl alcohol) and water. This is the most raw form of alcohol and therefore to
create stronger spirits distillation is required. In the process of distillation the mixture of
ethyl alcohol and water is further heated and ethanol having a lower boiling point than
water vaporizes at a faster rate. The collected and cooled vapors are then condensed into
a stronger concentration of ethanol liquid. Vodka, rum and others are among those that
undergo the process of distilling. Beers, lagers and wine are less toxic alcohols obtained
through brewing and/or fermentation.

Consumable alcohol and their base materials:

Beers and Lagers: Barley, hop, water and live yeast produce beers and lagers. Sugar for
beer comes from sprouting barley.

Wine: In the process of making wine the sugars or glucose required is obtained from the
flesh of crushed grapes.

Vodka: Vodka is made from fermented substances like grain and potatoes. Potatoes are
the source for sugar in vodka.

Rum: Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as
molasses and sugarcane juice by a process of fermentation and distillation.

Whiskey: Whiskey is a type of distilled beverage that is maid from fermented grain
mash. The grains used to extract the desired glucose content include a variety of grains
like barley, barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and maize (corn).
Gin: Gin is a spirit whose flavor and glucose content owes credit to a type of berries-
Juniper Berries.

Tequila: The Mexican spirit- Tequila is made from a blue-agave base. There are said to
be over 300 million plants of blue agave harvested each year.

Brandy: Brandy is that form of spirit which is obtained by distilling wine. Wine which is
obtained by fermentation of grapes is further distilled to produce brandy.

Other uses of Alcohol:

What most of us associate alcohol with is its direct consumable use. We do not realize
how many other industries are favored or favor the alcohol industry. The main
components of alcohol being derived from agricultural produce, has led the industry to
have a huge impact on the agricultural scenario. Some of the major uses of alcohol
including direct consumption are:

Drink It: Between 15 and 20 per cent of Indian people consume alcohol and, over the past
twenty years, the number of drinkers has increased from one in 300 to one in 20.
According to The Hindustan Times, it is estimated that of these 5 per cent can be classed
as alcoholics or alcohol dependent. This translates into about five million people addicted
to alcohol.

Burn it: Ethyl alcohol can be used as another available alternative to fossil fuels as it
burns easily, leaving behind only carbon dioxide and water. Alcohol is considered a
renewable source of energy as it is made from by products of sugar cane. This proves
very useful to countries that lack an efficient oil industry and reduces the burden on
imports of petroleum.

Wear it: Ethyl alcohol is used in perfumes as it is the least toxic of all alcohols.
Clean with it: Alcohol can be effectively used to clean stains as a result of paint.
Chemical Use: In laboratories ethanol is used dissolve chemicals that are insoluble in
water.
 The Negative Impact of Distilleries and Breweries.

Brewing is the second largest source of industrial waste creation after dairy industry
which ranks first. Unlike dairies, breweries have the option to discharge their waste
efficiently as they are mostly based in urban areas. They have the opportunity to
effectively channelize their waste material through the drainage facilities provided. This
is an easy method employed by many to avoid making separate provisions for treatment
of the effluent. The waste water from breweries is weak as compared to the waste
generated from distilleries which is very strong. Water consumption in distilleries is 10:1
(water to product) which is much less than that used in breweries. Distilleries in the past
have been allowed to dispose their unwanted sludge into the sea or at land sites after
proper aerobic treatment. But does the treatment take place before disposal is what is of
major consequence.

Though these industries have stimulated many late night discussions, the industries large
impact on environment is rarely considered. The environmental impact of the beer
industry is considerable by virtue of the total volume of the beverage consumed
worldwide. The world beer production as estimated recently is around 180 billion liters.
For every one liter can of beer produced, anywhere between 5 to 20 liters of water is
used. In 2000, the Coors Brewing Company, Colorado added to the mayhem with a 2500
barrel spill which killed 54,000 fish in a nearby creek.

As reports the Indian Express, in its June 2008 issue, the NV Distilleries contributed to
the many sorrows of the villagers of Ambala, Haryana. “Locals also complain bitterly
about the fact that the natural flow of Begna, a seasonal river, will be hampered since the
distillery has been constructed right on the river bed, which may result in flooding of
their fields and even villages. The construction of the 31-foot-road, villagers say, has also
resulted in the caving in of natural rivulets that freely flowed under it earlier.”1 In 2003,
the forest department had reportedly done tree plantations in the village of Sherpur.
However the distillery allegedly cleared three acres and chopped 157 trees.
Besides, residents of the Redu Jhiriwala Region near Nalagarh had filed a complaint
earlier in the year to the sub-divisional magistrate of Nalagarh against Sabacchus
Distillery Private Limited, alleging that foul smell emanated from the unit, which also
invited houseflies to the surrounding villages, posing health concerns. The situation is
reported to be an outcome of delay in the disposal of waste-molasses generated from the
distillery.

Effluents from distilleries severely deplete dissolved oxygen in water. A distillery in

Sitamarhi district of Bihar, also allegedly did not treat its effluents before discharge thus
killing aquatic life. According to the locals, the effluent treatment plants inside the
factory are used as storage space. The locals complain that the Manusmara River, is full
of kala pani, the water has turned dark red or black as result of the effluents. People have
stopped using river water, says Bhupendra Narayan Singh of Athri village in Runnisaidpur block.
It is neither fit for drinking nor for irrigation. In the kala pani -impacted area, the yield of sesame,
mango and jackfruit is badly affected says Singh, former senator of Rajendra Agricultural
University, Samastipur. Locals blame the distillery for water-borne diseases like diarrhea and
jaundice. Cases of people and animals getting skin infections after bathing in the river are
common. Over the years, air pollution too has increased manifold around the plant and people are
suffering from dust allergy and asthma.
 A Case Study- The UB Group

Having visited one of India’s top most distilleries and breweries the United Breweries
Group in Goa, here is a brief view of the company’s environmental responsibility.

A questionnaire was conducted and the answers were provided by Mr. Anand Rao
Palekar.

The UB Group is environment conscious. Even at a time when it was not yet fashionable
to be Green, they always ensured that they were in sync with their surroundings.
According to Mr. Palekar, the Company fully complies with and often exceeds the legal
requirements and guidelines that the Government of India prescribes in its environmental
policies. “At our offices and locations, we have always ensured that our impact on the
environment is minimal, and, wherever possible, positive.” Says Mr. Anand Rao Palekar.

They have a simple four step plan which they follow:

 Creating a green zone by planting saplings of trees and plants at all our locations.

 Installing state-of-the-art Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) to ensure zero

pollutant discharge at our factories

 Segregation of any waste into proper categories for appropriate disposal

 Recycling of waste and use of recycled products

On going personally on an industrial visit, what was observed was the location. Situated
in Ponda, Goa it is much secluded from everyday life. The area occupied by the unit is
large and is well maintained. Waste is efficiently channelized through the right methods.

The major type of waste generated by the company is used or spent oil and spent carbon.
Almost 200 kilo grams of used/spent oil per year is generated which is sold out to
authorized dealers while 400 kilo grams of spent carbon is generated which is sent to the
hazardous waste incinerator.

When asked about how they incorporate such costs in their financial structure, they have
a simple answer. They believe in incurring environmental costs on account of
maintaining ethical business practices which fetched them the standing they currently
possess. The effluent treatment plant was initially installed several years ago with an
investment of around rupees 200 lakhs. The returns however are been much more since
then. As explained by Mr. Palekar, to achieve zero levels of pollution is not practically
possible. With the decrease in pollution levels the cost for control measures increases
considerably. The graph below goes on to explain the economics of control costs.

Y
Cost/Benefit in Rupees

MCC

MBC
O B A X
High Low
 What are the environmental responsibilities of Corporate Distilleries?

Both local as well as world wide industry has significant impact on the environment so
much so that the quality of natural resources is diminishing or degrading alarmingly. In
order to solve these environmental problems on a global scale, existing trade restrictions
between countries are being imposed to achieve each nation’s environmental
rehabilitation goals.

Elimination of Potential Fire Hazards:

The volatility of grain dusts especially if stored in great concentrations present threats of
dust fire and possible explosions. Grains tend to get damp if stored in a closed room or
warehouse for a long period of time. This will produce heat that poses the threat of fire.

The distillery company should see to it that preventive measures are in place and are
observed. “An example of a preventive measure is rotating the grain storage by
transferring contents from bin to bin or to avoid prolonged storage by adopting the ‘just-
in-time’ grain delivery policy. In addition, it will be the responsibility of the distillery
company to construct or install tank vents, flame retardants, foaming devices and or other
safety devices to prevent the spread of fire in any eventuality.”2

Reduce the volume of vapors and gases emitted from distillation units to tolerable levels.

During the process of fermentation there is the release of refrigerant gas which poses
toxic risks and again poses the threat of fire hazards and other health malfunctions. If one
inhales the alcohol vapors especially during the process of transportation or decantation
in reservoir are considered as health hazards. The danger is more prominent when such
activities take place in enclosed or confined spaces where ventilation is considered
inadequate.

Explore current technologies to discover newer ways of pollution prevention and

effective waste management.

Distillery spent wash is the unwanted residual liquid which is present in the wastewater
of distilleries and has an unpleasant odor. It is a waste product generated during alcohol
production. This type of waste is known for its capacity to increase chances of water and
soil pollution.

There are new technologies available to distillery companies, as bioremediation processes

to be used as treatment of this distillery spent wash, in order to achieve zero waste in the
near future. Implement Pollution Prevention Alternatives as a method for waste
management. Distilled grains can be repurposed as ingredients for livestock feed as it
contains high levels of nutrients like protein. Carbon dioxide released during
fermentation can be collected and processed for use for flash meat freezing processes and
in carbonated beverages.

Anaerobic absorption of distillery spent wash using different support materials like
coconut coir, charcoal and nylon fibers is another way of dealing with toxic waste.
Anaerobic treatment is widely recommended for molasses-based distilleries as it achieves
80 percent BOD removal and recovery of energy in biogas form.

SABMiller and Molson Coors' joint venture in the US, MillerCoors, has discovered a
novel use for waste water at its breweries. The Miller Genuine Draft and Coors Light
brewer said that it has worked out how to produce fish food from the waste water.
“Technology and innovative partnerships have a crucial role to play as we work towards
becoming a zero-waste operation, advances such as this new development show that there
innumerable ways in which our waste can be made useful for others," said MillerCoors
CEO Leo Kiely.
One of Scotland's best known whisky distilleries is taking part in a scheme to cut carbon
dioxide emissions using oil-producing algae. The Glenturret Distillery in Perthshire, is
aiming at turning the fumes generated in the process of manufacturing whiskey into
biodiesel. The algae are used to break down carbon dioxide and convert it into oil and
protein. David Van Alstyne, head of Scottish Bioenergy, said: "A couple of years ago the
idea of using algae as carbon recycler sounded absurd but with the support of Shell,
Edrington Group and the Scottish Environmental Technology Network we have built
Britain's first pilot scale bioreactor. In the fight against climate change we need soft
engineering alternatives to be applied at every opportunity, and this alternative to pumped
carbon capture and storage holds great promise. If it proves to be economically
competitive and can be scaled up the potential could be absolutely huge."
 Conclusion

Keeping in mind the fact that we are currently standing at a comparatively new phase of
environmental protection, both the Government and the industry need to see that the
money allotted for pollution control measures is well spent and the environment is
protected. The county has the necessary talent for designing, constructing and operating
most of the control devices, and all efforts should be made to come up with the best
solution to the environmental problems and the industry should make arrangements to
introduce such essential devices.
 Synopsis- Impact of Distilleries and Breweries on Environment.

Growth of alcohol industries is seen due to rising income levels and changing drinking
habits of Indians. Fondness for alcohol is common among many societies of India today.
Alcohol production is an important industry in India and has been drawing attention in
many areas including the stock market, politics, agriculture, employment etc. Being part
of a family employed in breweries and distilleries over the years, what intrigues me is the
influence of the industries on the environment.

“For every litre of alcohol produced, 12 to 15 litres of distillery effluent are

generated.” 1 There are around 290 distilleries at present in India. Annually 40 billion
litres of effluents are discharged from such industries. Land is a wise alternative for the
disposal of these effluents because when bi-products are treated properly they serve as a
source of ferti-irrigation for agricultural crops.

The sludge from distilleries is also used as fuel along with coal. “Distilleries burn bagasse
to provide heat and electricity - for the plant and even produce electricity for sale.” 2 Thus
distilleries help raising standard of living by providing electricity and employment in
rural areas. Many sugar companies are benefitted by expansion of distilleries which
counterbalances losses from sugar price fluctuations.

While distilleries and breweries are conducive to the economy, the alcohol industry
considerably detoriates the environment.

Often, such industries fail to address environmental issues on account of their staunch
inclination towards profit making rather than social welfare. Waste management is an
area which is often neglected. Having spoken with residents living near one of the top
most Distilleries and Breweries in the United Kingdom, it has been brought to notice that
large amounts of waste is discharged in water bodies, thus harming aquatic life. Vapors
and gases are released through large chimneys during the process which pose as a threat
to the health of people living in and around.

The research will include the economical, environmental and social responsibility of
Distilleries and Breweries and the methodology employed in the process will involve
basic study of literary works on the subject matter and reference to trustworthy internet
based information. Questionnaires targeted at such corporations have been scheduled as
an approach to collecting data. Research will also include case studies.

The paper will throw light on the following questions

- Do Companies care?
- What are the costs and benefits of changing?
- How do such companies incorporate greener alternatives?
 Bibliography and Webliography

T.N. Khoshoo, 1988, Environmental Concerns and Strategies, India, Ashish Publishing
House.

S. Nirmal Chandra and C. Amita Kumari, 2005, Dimensions of Environmental and

Ecological Economics, India, Universities Press (India) Private Ltd.

G. Daniel, 2010, Ecological Intelligence, London, Penguin Books.

N.P. Jules, 2007, The SAGE Handbook on Environment and Society, London, SAGE
publications Limited.

S. Jeanne Mager, Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety, International

Labour Office, Volume III, Fourth Edition.

K. Sujit, 14/02/2008, Down To Earth.

Thursday, July 23, 1998, Indian Express Newspaper, New Delhi.

www.brighthub.com 2

www.indianexpress.com 1

www.bbc.co.uk

www.just-drinks.com

www.alcoholandyou.com
Field work includes industrial visits to various distilleries in Goa- The UB Group, Tonia
Liquors, Impala Distilleries, Arlem Beer Factory.