Bread and beer are arguably two of life's greatest pleasures. And now, with the innovation of The Sheraton, Amsterdam, the two are becoming one in a brew that tackles food waste through great taste. So please pull up a barstool, dive into the food waste problem, breeze through a tour of our brewing methods, and look at some other waste-busting brilliance from around the globe.
After all, who said being eco-friendly had to be dry?
Rising to the occasion
Food waste is a pervasive problem around the globe; in fact, almost one-third of all produce is wasted. And it isn't just the food we're wasting; nearly one-quarter of our water supply is lost growing crops that are never eaten. It's a shocking problem worthy of solving.
So, what can we do?
At The Marriott, we’re no stranger to making eco-friendly improvements. From greener hotels to energy efficiency and effective initiatives, taking on food waste was a natural fit for a company intent on fueling better travel and stays. This latest innovation follows a string of others like; our free electric charging points for Teslas in Le Meridien, Barcelona, a loyalty system that rewards guests who decline housekeeping, and sourcing local produce wherever possible.
Then came this. From the minds of the brainiacs at The Sheraton, Amsterdam and the support of our global team comes; Gouden Broud. The unique beer that combines our restaurants' rich flavor of surplus bread with locally sourced ingredients to create a distinctive taste that reflects our commitment to environmental responsibility.
Amsterdam is famous for its extensive history in brewing and for its exceptional quality. That’s why we’re making this special blend in collaboration with a local brewery and serving it right here in The Sheraton this Summer.
The magic behind the bready brew
When it comes to forming the new beer, the basics were already established. All we had to do was swap the regular barley malt for delicious surplus bread. From that came the mighty mash that forms the base of our waste-busting beer, then the wort, adding the aromatic hops and fermenting it all together. The result? A unique brew filled with local flavors and a creative way to cut wasted bread.
More ways to upcycle waste
As the world wakes up to greater environmental pressures, the ways to navigate waste are only getting more wild and wonderful. So let's raise a toast to well…toast and look to other people pioneering the positive waste movement. Whether they’re as delicious as making beer from bread is still up for debate.
Cappuccino chic from wearable coffee grounds
S. Café has created a method of transforming coffee grounds into wearable textiles that are more energy-efficient and faster to produce than traditional natural fibers. Their patented yarn dries 200% faster than cotton and can be made with low temperatures and little energy. In addition to this, the yarn naturally absorbs odors and reflects UV rays, thanks to its unique micro-pores. This two in one innovation could well be the future of fabric.
Edible cutlery
Created by Narayana Peesapaty, Bakey's is a green alternative to plastic cutlery. Plastic cutlery cannot be recycled and can take up to 200 years to fully decompose. These plastics result in great amounts of waste, endanger wildlife and create issues in waterways every year. Bakey's edible cutlery allows people to literally eat the evidence and leaves no trash. They also come in three different flavors: plain, sweet, and savory. They're 100% natural, vegan, and will biodegrade if not eaten.
Mushroom leathers
Mushroom leather is a vegan-friendly material used as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to animal leather. The process swaps cow for mycelium (the vegetative part of a fungus) and through a unique combination of treatments, creates a mammal free fabric that’s just as hard wearing, but gentler on the planet. This creative use of fast growing fungi cuts down the production of leather and removes the need for as many cattle farms, and by extension, reduces their emissions. These are just a few ways people are getting creative with waste to benefit the planet, and we couldn’t be more proud to put our beer on the green waste shelf.
Want to be the first to know when Gouden Broud launches? Keep an eye on our social channels to catch the official launch, or follow us on LinkedIn.
Comments