Reducing consumption and reusing and recycling raw materials is a basic component of the company’s operations. Office paper, cardboard, glass, stretch wrap, plastic strapping, construction materials, pallets, and hop burlap are just some of the many materials recycled at the brewery.

In 2006, Sierra Nevada diverted a total of 33,738 tons of materials-97.8% of the total waste-from the landfill; including 631,490 pounds of cardboard, 528,320 pounds of glass, 4,320 pounds of office pack/mixed paper, 25,900 pounds of shrink wrap, and 40,630 pounds of plastic strapping.

Sierra Nevada has received the WRAP Award (Waste Reduction Awards Program) from the State of California yearly since 2001, and in 2002 was named one of the top ten recipients of the WRAP of the Year Award for the company's extraordinary waste reduction awareness programs.

• Sierra Nevada Sustainable Practices News Release