Life cycle assessment of a basic lager beer

The current case study was performed to determine and evaluate the environmental impacts, and to look for possible improvements in the production and distribution of a basic lager beer that is packed into multi-packs of glass battles. The life cycle investigated includes the stages from agricultural production up to the delivering of products to the shops, the consumption phase has been excluded. Raw water treatment and energy production and use have been included, and the contribution of different sub-systems inside of the life cycle to climate change, acidification, eutrophication, oxygen depletion and summer smog were assessed. The investigation resulted with several suggestions for improving the product and environmental performance of brewery.