Climate Change Data

Yakima Chief Hops, Inc.

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2021, 2022-01 to 2023-12)

Reporting Period: 2021

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:142,733 MT CO2e (Scope 1, 2, & 3 combined)
Scope 1 Emissions:5,579 MT CO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:2,780 MT CO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:134,364 MT CO2e/year
Renewable Energy Share:78%
Total Energy Consumption:11,320,285 kwh/year
Water Consumption:6,999,345 gallons/year
Waste Generated:229,110 lbs/year (diverted from landfill)
Carbon Intensity:0.20 lbs. CO2/RHE

ESG Focus Areas

  • Environmental
  • Social
  • Governance

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced greenhouse gas intensity by 27% since 2020
  • Achieved 78% renewable energy for domestic operations
  • Reduced total facility water use by 25% since 2020
  • Reduced waste generation by 30% since 2020
  • Diverted 247 metric tons of material from landfill through recycling efforts

Social Achievements

  • Increased percentage of women in leadership positions to 13%
  • Increased diverse representation (BIPOC) in leadership positions to 27%
  • Achieved 89% employee retention rate
  • Launched Bigger Than Beer podcast focused on Women+ in the Industry

Governance Achievements

  • Established ESG framework
  • Maintained ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 certifications
  • Implemented YCRM Phase 2 for improved customer relationship management

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
  • Reduce Scope 1, 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 50% (based on 2019 baseline)
  • Procure 100% renewable energy for domestic operations
  • Achieve carbon neutrality on 50% of all shipments
  • Ensure 100% of growers GLOBALG.A.P. Certified
  • Ensure 100% of packaging materials are reusable, recyclable, or compostable
  • Maintain customer satisfaction rate above 90%
  • Ensure zero time loss incidents from employees
  • Increase % of women in leadership positions
  • Increase diverse representation (BIPOC) in leadership positions
  • Achieve 85% employee retention rate
Short-term Goals:
  • Not disclosed

Environmental Challenges

  • Climate change impacts on hop growing
  • Water scarcity
  • Global pandemic disruptions
Mitigation Strategies
  • Investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy
  • Partnerships with conservation organizations for watershed protection
  • Implementation of water preservation and sustainable farming practices
  • Adaptable business model to navigate pandemic challenges

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement
  • Sustainable sourcing practices
  • Collaboration with family hop farms

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Drought conditions
  • Weather volatility
Transition Risks
  • Changing regulations
  • Market shifts
Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products and processes
  • Investments in renewable energy

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: core option

Certifications: ISO 14001:2015, ISO 9001:2015, GLOBALG.A.P., HACCP

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
  • SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
  • SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
  • SDG 13 (Climate Action)
  • SDG 14 (Life Below Water)
  • SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

Initiatives contributing to these goals are detailed throughout the report

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Not disclosed

Awards & Recognition

  • Brewshed Alliance Member of the Year Award

Reporting Period: 2022-01 to 2023-12

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:137,000+ tCO2e/year (Scope 1, 2, and 3 combined)
Scope 1 Emissions:3,301 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:7,440 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:134,364 tCO2e/year
Renewable Energy Share:86%
Total Energy Consumption:19,562,721 kwh/year
Water Consumption:10,113,691 gallons/year
Waste Generated:8,710 lbs hazardous waste/year

ESG Focus Areas

  • Protecting Our Planet
  • Healthy Hops
  • Thriving Farms
  • Product Excellence
  • Empowering People
  • Growing Our Community

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced Scope 1, 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 38% (based on 2019 baseline intensity ratio)
  • Sourcing 86% renewable energy for domestic operations
  • Achieved carbon neutrality on 87% of shipments through carbon offset programs
  • 99% of family farm facilities are ‘Green Status’ Green Chief® Level
  • Reduced water intensity ratio
  • Reduced waste intensity ratio by 43%

Social Achievements

  • Increased percentage of women in leadership positions to 18%
  • Increased diverse representation (BIPOC) in leadership positions to 27%
  • Achieved 83% employee retention rate
  • Employees volunteered 976 hours and contributed $5,600 through the giveback program
  • Donated $294,430 to various community projects

Governance Achievements

  • Maintained ISO 14001 certification for US and Belgium facilities
  • Achieved zero environmental compliance nonconformities
  • No confirmed incidents of corruption

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Transition operations to a zero-waste-to-landfill status
  • 100% of packaging solutions to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable
Medium-term Goals:
  • Procure 100% renewable energy for domestic operations
  • Achieve carbon neutrality on 50% of all shipments
  • Ensure 100% of growers are prepared to pass GLOBALG.A.P. certification
  • Ensure 100% of growers participating in greenhouse gas emissions tool
  • Increase % of women in leadership positions
  • Increase diverse representation (BIPOC) in leadership positions
  • Achieve 85% employee retention rate
  • Contribute 1% of sales towards community enhancement projects
  • Achieve 50% employee participation rate in YCH volunteer program
  • Achieve 50% employee utilization of ‘give-back’ dollars towards NGO of their choice
Short-term Goals:
  • Reduce Scope 1, 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 50% (based on 2019 baseline)

Environmental Challenges

  • Climate change impacts on farms (droughts, wildfires, flooding)
  • Maintaining high Return-to-Grower rates amidst market fluctuations
  • Transitioning to 100% recyclable or compostable packaging
  • Reducing Scope 3 emissions
Mitigation Strategies
  • Investing in renewable energy (solar panels), energy efficiency upgrades, and carbon offset programs
  • Maintaining a 75% Return-to-Grower rate
  • Vetting new foil alternatives for packaging
  • Partnering with organizations for farm-level emissions reduction

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Collaboration with 58 family hop farms
  • Green Chief® Program promoting sustainable practices

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Extreme weather events (droughts, wildfires, flooding)
Transition Risks
  • Regulatory changes impacting agricultural practices
Opportunities
  • Development of climate-smart agricultural practices

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: core option

Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, HACCP

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 7
  • SDG 8
  • SDG 11
  • SDG 12
  • SDG 13
  • SDG 14
  • SDG 17

Initiatives contribute to these goals through sustainable agriculture, community engagement, emissions reduction, water conservation, and responsible sourcing.

Awards & Recognition

  • Platinum Award Winner, Season One Women + in the Industry, Craft Beer & Marketing Awards