Drake’s Wins StopWaste Award

At a recognition event last month, Drake’s Brewing Company in San Leandro was one of six recipients of a 2024 Environmental Leadership Award from Alameda County public agency StopWaste. The annual awards honor Alameda County entities for their leadership and innovations in advancing environmental sustainability, waste prevention, and contributions to building healthy, climate resilient communities. The local brewery won for Excellence in Waste Prevention and Reuse, specifically their innovative approach to eliminating transport packaging waste.

At the brewery, beer kegs used to be stacked on easily damaged wooden pallets and were secured with disposable plastic pallet wrap as they were moved between facilities for cleaning and refilling, or for shipment to off-site taprooms. In 2019, Drake’s switched to reusable plastic pallets and replaced the plastic wrap with reusable wraps and rubber bands. In the first year alone, they eliminated 16,000 lbs of pallet wood waste and 290,000 square feet of plastic wrap—an amount that would be enough to cover five football fields! In addition to cost savings, the reusable solutions save time because they are easier to apply and have improved worker safety.

Since moving to reusable transport packaging, Drake’s has made additional efforts to reduce their environmental footprint, from minimizing brewery water use to creating customized signage that helps taproom guests properly sort their discards. This year they were recognized as a Green Business by the California Green Business Network. Drake’s also readily shares their insights, experiences, and resources with fellow breweries and are regular presenters on the topic of sustainable operations to industry groups, like the California Craft Brewers Association.

Founded in 1989, Drake’s Brewing Company operates a brewery and taproom in San Leandro, and two additional taprooms in the greater Bay Area. With about 1.25 million gallons of beer sold annually, they are among the 50 largest craft breweries in the country. Drake’s is a reminder that business success and environmental practices can go hand in hand, and we are proud to count them among our innovative, community-minded and forward-thinking San Leandro companies!