Material flow based eco‐balancing and evaluation of a beer production process

This study describes the preparation of an eco‐balance to document the materials and energy which are part of the beer production process of the Hasseröder Brewery Ltd. A general introduction to eco‐balances and material flow networks is followed by the description of the concrete case study. The modelling of material flows and the derivation of eco‐balances is illustrated with the help of a selected process from beer production. Finally, the possibilities and limitations of the balance evaluation is discussed with the aid of performance measurement systems. The article closes with a preview of future studies.