Sustainability Spotlight | Bays Brewery
Based in Paignton, Bays Brewery is a family-run brewery that has been creating exceptional, award-winning beers for 18 years and counting.
Bays Brewery began life when brothers Mark and Peter Salmon joined forces with their brother-in-law Will Freeland to realise their dream of creating quality beer inspired by their hometown of Torbay.
Crafted the Devon way, its three permanent ales, Topsail, Pure Gold and Devon Dumpling, all offer a distinct flavour of Devon.
The brewery also offers a craft beer collection encompassing Devon Rock Craft Lager, Devon Cove Pale Ale and a low-alcohol lager called Rock Steady
What have you done to make your business more sustainable?
Our commitment to sustainability runs through every aspect of the business, beginning with the brewing process itself.
Our rooftop solar panels, green tariff, energy-efficient cooling system and recovered heat procedure help ensure that our beers are created as sustainably as possible.
This commitment continues to the very end, with our 'spent grains' donated to a local farmer who comes to collect them every week to feed his cows, ensuring nothing from the brewing process goes to waste.
All our 'spent hops' are given to local gardeners and allotment associations in the local area for use as fertiliser and composting. We're proud to say that 50% of our malt is sourced locally and 50% of our hops are grown in the UK.
We propagate our own yeast, and ‘spent yeast’ is sent to an anaerobic digestion plant to provide power to a local dairy farm.
We also use biodegradable / compostable pint cups and multi-use cups at all of our local events, ensuring that everyone enjoying our beers can do so in an environmentally-minded manner.
What would you like to change in the future to improve your sustainability credentials further?
We have recently introduced eco-friendly wooden pump clips for our much-loved Devon Dumpling and Topsail ales, in collaboration with the eco-minded folks at Inspirwood based in Teignmouth.
They don’t just look fantastic on the bar, they also reflect our belief that great beer shouldn’t come at the expense of the planet, and we are currently exploring other ways we can work with Inspirwood to roll this ethos out to our other beers.
Plans are also in place to replace our existing bottle cases with fully-recyclable materials such as cardboard and other biodegradable alternatives. We're also hoping to replace some of our bottles with cans in the very near future.
What are your tips for other businesses that want to become more sustainable?
It’s important to remember that sustainability isn’t just about the brewing process – it’s about people too.
One of the initiatives we’re most proud of is our Charity Brew series. Since 2013, these beers have raised more than £40,000 for local causes, from Paignton Zoo to the RNLI. Each one not only tastes good, but also serves a bigger purpose by giving back to the people and places that make Devon such a special place.
So our biggest tip for other businesses is to think beyond the product in front of you. Sustainability is about creating a cycle where your success benefits the wider community and landscape.
Whether that’s sourcing locally, reusing resources creatively, or launching a product with a purpose like our Charity Brews, the rewards are huge - for your business, your customers, and your community.
For more information about Bays Brewery visit their website below.