We like to think our brewery is located in one of the best places in the world…Byron Bay. The Bay and the surrounding areas possess a multifaceted natural beauty that is impossible not to appreciate, making it a place visitors, locals and dreamers love. From the pristine coastline dotted with incredible surf spots and secluded getaways, to the undulating foothills and farmland drenched in green, amber and orange watercolors and out to the entangled subtropical rainforest only 15 minutes inland of the beach, it is a special place. It is this natural beauty that is a part of the inspiration for our beer.

A place like this, like any natural environment needs to be respected and protected. For this reason, as part of our community initiative Ingrained, we seek to support grassroots organisations who push to make a positive difference. We love the work that Byron based, not-for-profit Positive Change for Marine Life do locally, nationally and also abroad, encouraging people to take ownership of the environment – our environment.

With the days left in this year diminishing, there is the realization that Christmas and holidays are approaching! Sleepy towns become bustling hubs, bare bodies dot the hot sand and everyone is in relax mode. Speaking with Founding Director Karl Goodsell, he said this is also the time when you notice an increase in rubbish and debris littering our beaches, streets and natural areas. It has been estimated that cigarette butts make up 24% of all marine debris, while studies show that plastic debris can be found in all ocean basins from the North to South Pole. Such is the extent that you’d be hard pressed NOT to find a plastic bag on every beach in the world. It certainly doesn’t take a masters degree to understand the devastating impact this has on marine ecosystems AND human beings.

As a part of our support for Positive Change, the boys in the brewery have been saving our grain bags so that they can be reused by the volunteers to collect rubbish on their weekly beach clean ups. These amazing volunteers contribute to keeping our beaches beautiful but the real solution lays in not littering, recycling and reducing our dependency on plastic.

While incredible, our living world is vulnerable. Being conscious is the first step toward minimising our impact. Whether it is on holidays, at home or on a roadtrip to Byron with your friends respect the natural beauty around you.

For more information on how you can minimise marine debris and single use plastic bags, click here. 

Feature: Jasmin Daly; All other photos: unknown