Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Craft brewers are innovative leaders in the beverage sector [1,2]. The breweries take pride in developing new products and processes that give both brewery employees and customers options for sustainable living. Despite significant improvement over the last two decades, water consumption and wastewater disposal remain environmental and economic hurdles that directly affect breweries and the brewing process [3]. In this context, many breweries have been looking for innovative solutions for water and wastewater management. These solutions go beyond facility water conservation programs to find collaborative, sustainable solutions for the community and for the environment, as excessive water pollution can impact ecosystems. In this context, SaltBox Brewing Company Limited (SaltBox) is a craft brewery located in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia (NS). The company produces beer and cider with outstanding taste and character, using local product and supplies. To increase production capacity (to entertain a large-scale product export) and enable bi-products valorisation, the company has identified the reduction of pollutant concentration in wastewater as key in leading to an increased profit margin. The company is therefore seeking Nova Scotia Community College's (NSCC) support to research a novel and cost-effective wastewater treatment or effluent discharges technological strategy. This will allow SaltBox to innovate and ramp up production while creating novel value-added products from wastewater residues, and therefore result in economic benefits to the company through an increased market share in Canada and beyond.