Firestone Walker has reached a new sustainability milestone with the launch of a state-of-the-art carbon dioxide (CO₂) recovery system at our Paso Robles brewery, an innovation that’s expected to save four million pounds of CO₂ emissions every year.

This latest advancement is part of their long-running “Brewing for Tomorrow” initiative, which focuses on reducing the brewery’s carbon footprint through renewable energy, water conservation, recycling, and energy efficiency.

“We are always looking for new ways to brew great beer while taking care of the world around us,” said Nick Firestone. “The new CO2 recovery system is the next step in that journey, and it’s another way for us to cut emissions, conserve our resources, and make a difference for our environment and community.”

During fermentation, yeast naturally produces CO₂ as it consumes sugar, gas that typically escapes into the atmosphere. Firestone Walker’s new system changes that. The recovery unit captures, purifies, and stores the CO₂, which is then reused throughout the brewery for essential processes like purging tanks, packaging, and carbonating beer.

The impact is significant: 4 million pounds of CO₂ that would have been released each year are now redirected and reused.

To make it happen, they have constructed a dedicated $1 million facility to house the $1.8 million recovery system, developed by Pentair, a global leader in beverage technology.

The CO₂ recovery system is just one piece of their comprehensive approach to sustainability. The brewery’s on-site solar arrays already offset 60% of its total energy use, with another five acres of panels planned for 2026. Each year, 40 million gallons of process water are treated and returned to the local aquifer, and 20 million pounds of spent grain are reused as livestock feed for local farmers.

Other systems include a vapor condenser that recovers enough energy daily to power an average household for a year, and the brewery’s “Boneyard,” which repurposes old brewing equipment and materials.

All of these efforts ladder up to a bigger goal: 50% carbon neutral by 2030 and 100% carbon neutral by 2050

“Sustainability is built into how we run the brewery,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “Every little thing adds up. Carbon neutrality is a big target, but we’re making progress one system at a time.”

Photo: Firestone Walker