Pollution Prevention Institute receives EPA grants to launch green brewery initiative, support pollution prevention
Monday, Jan. 27, 2025
MANHATTAN — Kansas State University's Pollution Prevention Institute has been awarded two major pollution prevention grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support sustainability in Kansas.
The grants, totaling more than $580,000, will be used to reduce pollution and promote sustainable practices by providing technical assistance and fostering collaboration between Kansas businesses, environmental justice communities and state institutions.
The grants will focus on supporting environmental justice communities in a variety of ways, including training programs and the launch of a green brewery initiative. This initiative will help breweries — a key small business sector in Kansas — adopt more sustainable practices and increase efficiency. As part of the initiative, the Pollution Prevention Institute, or PPI, and Manhattan Brewing Company will host a roundtable event to engage local breweries in a discussion about pollution prevention strategies tailored to the craft beer industry.
"The Kansas craft beer scene has seen a great deal of growth in the last three decades, and bringing an environmentally incentivized program only serves to promote even more growth," said Garrett Paulman, co-owner of Manhattan Brewing Company. "We are excited about the efficiencies it stands to introduce that will improve our collective environmental footprint and, as a nice little bonus, improve our returns."
The project will also introduce a "green brewery label" designed to recognize and promote breweries that implement sustainable practices, helping to raise awareness and encourage more environmentally responsible operations within the brewing sector.
"We're excited to work with these businesses to address pollution at its source, promoting both environmental and economic benefits," said Cris Brazil, pollution prevention specialist at PPI and principal investigator of both grants. "This project gives us the opportunity to help small businesses that often face environmental challenges."
Under these grants, the institute will also work closely with Kansas businesses to reduce toxic chemical use, minimize water and hazardous waste, and improve energy efficiency. The funding will support the PPI summer internship program, a 10-week initiative that offers Kansas students hands-on experience in environmental engineering. Through the program, interns will provide businesses with recommendations on how to reduce their environmental footprint while improving cost efficiency.
"Our goal is to help businesses reduce their environmental impact by improving processes and finding safer alternatives to toxic chemicals," Brazil said. "This work will support Kansas industries in adopting more sustainable practices while protecting both the environment and public health, advancing our mission as a land-grant university."
The projects will utilize tools from the Toxics Use Reduction Institute and incorporate advanced technological improvements in partnership with K-State's Technology Development Institute. K-State Research and Extension offices in the Midway and Post Rock districts will play a key role in facilitating outreach and support for these initiatives.
Both grant-funded projects are set to begin in 2025, with PPI leading the charge to reduce toxic chemical use, conserve resources and create a cleaner, healthier Kansas for future generations.
The Pollution Prevention Institute is in K-State's Engineering Extension unit and works to protect public health and promote sustainability through environmental education and services to industry, institutions, and communities. For more information, visit sbeap.org.
