Earth Day is a reminder that meaningful environmental change rarely comes from one big, dramatic action. More often, it’s built through the small, consistent choices we make every day.
In the world of craft beer, one of the simplest (and honestly, most enjoyable) of those choices is opting for refillable growlers and howlers.
Long before sustainability became a buzzword, these humble containers were already doing the work. They’ve always offered a way to reduce waste, support local breweries, and enjoy beer a little more intentionally. Now, as conversations around climate impact and conscious consumption continue to grow, they feel more relevant than ever.
If you’ve spent any time exploring BC’s craft beer scene, you’ve likely come across both growlers and howlers. The concept is simple: bring a reusable container to your local brewery, have it filled fresh from the tap, take it home, and do it all over again. No excess packaging, no unnecessary waste, just good beer and a system that makes sense.
And that simplicity is exactly what makes it so impactful.
Every single-use can or bottle comes with an environmental cost. From extracting raw materials to manufacturing, transporting, and eventually recycling (or worse, landfilling), it’s a resource-heavy cycle that repeats itself with every purchase. Refillable containers interrupt that loop. Instead of constantly creating something new, you’re extending the life of something you already have.
Over time, one growler can replace dozens, even hundreds, of single-use containers. It’s a small shift, but one that adds up quickly.
Across British Columbia, where the craft beer industry has grown to nearly 250 breweries, that impact becomes even more meaningful. With that kind of scale comes responsibility. Breweries are already navigating sustainability challenges like water usage, energy consumption, and rising waste management costs. Many are actively working toward better solutions, whether that’s reducing water use, repurposing spent grain, or finding ways to reuse materials like can carriers.
But sustainability in beer isn’t just a brewery-side effort. It’s something drinkers can actively participate in, too.
That’s where refill culture really shines, especially in places like Victoria, where breweries are often just a short walk or bike ride apart. Choosing to refill instead of buying packaged beer not only reduces waste, it keeps your dollars local and strengthens your connection to the people behind the beer.
And some breweries are leaning into that idea in a big way.
Take The Empty Keg Brew House, for example. At a time when many breweries are moving away from growler fills or limiting what they’ll refill, they’ve gone in the opposite direction, actively encouraging customers to bring them in. They’ll fill any growler, not just their own, making it easier for people to participate in reuse without friction.
Their approach is rooted in a simple idea: reuse is better than recycling. Growlers don’t end up in a landfill or require energy to be processed into something new; they just keep going. It’s a small operational shift that reduces the need for canning and bottling, and ultimately, cuts down on waste altogether.
They’ve even added small incentives, like discounted fills and a growler club punch card, but the real value is in making sustainable choices feel easy and accessible. It’s a reminder that when businesses create systems that support better habits, people are far more likely to adopt them.
And it’s not just about sustainability, it’s also about how we drink.
Howlers, the smaller 32-oz version of a growler, offer a more flexible way to enjoy craft beer. They’re perfect for trying something new, sharing a couple of pints, or simply buying exactly what you’ll drink. Less leftover beer means less wasted resources, from the ingredients themselves to the energy used to produce them.
Even the containers have evolved. Today’s growlers come in stainless steel, insulated designs that keep beer cold for hours, or lightweight options that are easy to take along to the beach, a picnic, or a backyard hang. They fit seamlessly into everyday life, which is exactly what sustainable choices need to do.
Because at the end of the day, sustainability doesn’t have to feel complicated or overwhelming.
Sometimes it looks like walking into your local brewery, handing over your growler, and choosing to refill instead of replace.
One small habit. One easy swap. One refill at a time.
Every Pint Tells a Story
Supporting Local. Celebrating Community.
