122 S. Bolwig et al.
6.6.4 Involvement in research and development projects
Nine of the thirty- two breweries interviewed mentioned R&D projects, and
thirty- nine statements relating to R&D were obtained (Table 6.4). Twentytwo statements on R&D concerned opportunities for engaging in future
R&D projects, while only nine referred to current R&D activities, reflecting
a generally low level of engagement in such projects. That said, the vast
majority of brewers were continuously engaged in the development of new
products, product variants and process optimisation without perceiving these
efforts as R&D projects. Addressing sustainability issues was rarely the focus
of these activities. In the words of brewer 19, ‘We don’t think about research
because it is product based, so we say, “OK, here’s something we can do
better”, and then we need to find a solution to make it better’.
Breweries with ongoing R&D projects were collaborating with research
institutions, as well as private companies. Two Danish brewers (1, 2) were
working with the Technical University of Denmark on spent grain innovations and sustainable packaging. One Norwegian brewery (30) was collaborating with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and a food company
on a project to develop cattle feed based on spent grain mixed with traditional feed ingredients and tailored to the production of high- value wagyu
meat. There were also R&D collaborations in other areas of sustainable production. For example, brewer 2 was working with several firms and municipal institutions on energy efficiency and industrial symbiosis, while brewer
1 was working with the Carbon Trust to measure the carbon footprint of its
value chain and develop a road map to meet its targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (The Carbon Trust, 2017). Lastly, some breweries were
engaged in knowledge generation through meetings with other breweries or
via the brewers’ association in their respective countries.
Table 6.4 Number of interview statements by brewers in relation to factors and
aspects of engagement in R&D projects
Aspect
Activities
Opportunities
Barriers
Total
Factor
n = 6
n = 5
n = 4
n = 9
Economy
–
3
7
10
Product
3
3
–
6
CSR
6
12
–
18
Production
–
3
–
3
Regulation
–
1
1
2
All
9
22
8
39
Note
The table shows the number of statements in interviews related to each factor (economy,
product, CSR, production and regulation) and aspect (activity, opportunity or barrier). The
sign ‘n’ denotes the total number of breweries in the size class which made a statement on the
aspect in an interview. The answers are from interviews with four large and five small breweries
that included R&D aspects in their answers.
6.6.4 Involvement in research and development projects
Nine of the thirty- two breweries interviewed mentioned R&D projects, and
thirty- nine statements relating to R&D were obtained (Table 6.4). Twentytwo statements on R&D concerned opportunities for engaging in future
R&D projects, while only nine referred to current R&D activities, reflecting
a generally low level of engagement in such projects. That said, the vast
majority of brewers were continuously engaged in the development of new
products, product variants and process optimisation without perceiving these
efforts as R&D projects. Addressing sustainability issues was rarely the focus
of these activities. In the words of brewer 19, ‘We don’t think about research
because it is product based, so we say, “OK, here’s something we can do
better”, and then we need to find a solution to make it better’.
Breweries with ongoing R&D projects were collaborating with research
institutions, as well as private companies. Two Danish brewers (1, 2) were
working with the Technical University of Denmark on spent grain innovations and sustainable packaging. One Norwegian brewery (30) was collaborating with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and a food company
on a project to develop cattle feed based on spent grain mixed with traditional feed ingredients and tailored to the production of high- value wagyu
meat. There were also R&D collaborations in other areas of sustainable production. For example, brewer 2 was working with several firms and municipal institutions on energy efficiency and industrial symbiosis, while brewer
1 was working with the Carbon Trust to measure the carbon footprint of its
value chain and develop a road map to meet its targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (The Carbon Trust, 2017). Lastly, some breweries were
engaged in knowledge generation through meetings with other breweries or
via the brewers’ association in their respective countries.
Table 6.4 Number of interview statements by brewers in relation to factors and
aspects of engagement in R&D projects
Aspect
Activities
Opportunities
Barriers
Total
Factor
n = 6
n = 5
n = 4
n = 9
Economy
–
3
7
10
Product
3
3
–
6
CSR
6
12
–
18
Production
–
3
–
3
Regulation
–
1
1
2
All
9
22
8
39
Note
The table shows the number of statements in interviews related to each factor (economy,
product, CSR, production and regulation) and aspect (activity, opportunity or barrier). The
sign ‘n’ denotes the total number of breweries in the size class which made a statement on the
aspect in an interview. The answers are from interviews with four large and five small breweries
that included R&D aspects in their answers.