Seed to Specialty™ Sustainability Program
For our environment, communities and people
Creating natural, specialty ingredients is our passion, passed down through five generations of Briess family ownership. Woven within the fiber of this innovative, family-owned business is a deep connection with the land, agriculture and environment. These resources form the backbone of Briess’ malting tradition…resources that provide a consistent supply of pure, natural grains and starches needed to produce our finished ingredients.
We believe it is our inherent responsibility to be a good steward of these resources by operating in an environmentally responsible manner.
Toward that goal, in 2017 Briess initiated a comprehensive Seed to Specialty™ sustainability program encompassing our environment, our communities and our people. The program builds upon our environmental Green with Briess™ program, which initially succeeded in decreasing Briess’ environmental impact by 10 million fewer miles being driven each year since 2006. Today, that program continues to identify and improve operations to further decrease our environmental impact.
We also believe our responsibility extends beyond the environment, reaching into the communities in which we live and our number one resource—our team members. Being a good neighbor, engaging in our communities, and creating a culture that motivates and inspires our team members guides us as we strive to meet the goal set forth by Ignatius Briess in 1876—helping our customers succeed through quality and innovation.
Strategic Supply Chain Acquisitions
The foundation for a Seed to Specialty™ sustainability program was laid in 2013 when Briess acquired a major grain elevator operation in the unique agricultural Bighorn Basin of Northwestern Wyoming/Southern Montana. The purchase immediately connected Briess with a network of 300+ experienced barley growers.
In 2014, Briess acquired a major malting operation in Manitowoc, WI, to receive, process and store grain.
The new assets were strategically selected to assure a consistent supply of high quality barley for years to come, as well as for their unique characteristics which match our commitment to the environment. Connected by rail, the two modern facilities offered Briess the ability to source raw barley grown with less environmental impact, streamline raw barley transportation, improve operating efficiencies, expand innovative problem solving, and deepen our commitment to our customers, communities and staff. The acquisitions made Briess a vertically integrated grain processor in control of its barley supply, and put in place resources for a Seed to Specialty™ sustainability program.
Current key initiatives anchoring our multi-faceted Sustainability Program include:
- Environment
- Energy—Reduce consumption and emissions through benchmarking, capital and operational improvements in existing and new construction
- Water—Reduce consumption by searching out new and innovative process and system changes
- Waste Stream—Regularly review processes and contributions to waste streams to minimize environmental impacts and maximize reuse and recovery. Partnership with local dairies diverts high‐strength liquid waste from the wastewater treatment plant to a bio‐digester, where it helps generate a continuous 1–5 megawatts of electricity
- Communities
- Be a good neighbor and employer of choice
- Engage with and contribute to our communities through volunteerism, donations and education
- Partnerships with local utilities provide efficiently produced energy for our facilities
- People
- Continue to cultivate a culture based on respect, honesty, positive attitude, safety, quality and integrity.
- Empower and support our team members to help them realize their full potential professionally and personally
