Garage Project’s Treehugger sparks sustainable change

Garage Project has released a new beer that has helped the Wellington brewery explore how it can make its overall processes more sustainable.

Treehugger Pilsner (4% ABV) is made only from ingredients that are local, sustainably grown, and transported in the greenest way possible with the help of New Zealand suppliers using regenerative practices, including 100% low footprint hops.

Garage Project Head Brewer and Co-Founder Pete Gillespie says it was a “unifying experience” for the brewery team and their suppliers. “Every part of our business came together around the table to make the most sustainable product we possibly could. Our key suppliers Gladfield Malt, Freestyle Hops, OJI Fibre Solutions and Blue Star were all on board.”

Garage Project Head Brewer and Co-Founder Pete Gillespie with Treehugger.

“We’re on a sustainability journey at Garage Project,” says Gillespie. “We are not perfect, but every day we’re looking for ways to reduce waste, lessen our carbon footprint and minimise our overall impact on the earth. Creating Treehugger was a chance to go further.”

Treehugger comes in a cardboard wrap outer (rather than a box) made with 84% recycled cardboard and redesigned to use less ink and avoid the need for stickers usually used in the dispatch process.

Garage Project is also donating $1 to Trees for Canterbury for every 6-pack sold.

Brewed at a higher ABV to reduce energy, the team at the brewery changed processes to reduce CO2 use, such as locking in natural CO2 for carbonation, and purging cans with nitrogen rather than CO2.

Garage Project says that it intends to apply learnings from Treehugger to its processes, and has invested in new technology across the business. This includes valves to keep carbon dioxide in the tanks, a carbon dioxide recovery unit and a new warehouse cold room that uses 25% less electricity day-to-day, and reduces the climate change impact of any refrigeration leakage into the atmosphere by 1,200 times, compared with the industry standard.

Garage Project Treehugger is out now at RRP $22.99 per 330ml 6-pack.