Who is Yakima Chief Hops?
Yakima Chief Hops (YCH) is a 100% grower-owned global hop supplier that has operated for over 35 years (with roots in the Yakima Valley going back to 1868), whose mission is to connect worldwide brewers with family hop farms in the Pacific Northwest. Leaders in innovation and quality, YCH strives to minimise impact, support community and environmental causes, and ensure the brewing industry thrives sustainably for future generations.
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The Challenge
For YCH, sustainability isn’t just a corporate initiative—it’s a responsibility embedded into every aspect of their operations. However, as their business grew, so did the complexity of managing their environmental data. Outdated processes and siloed systems began to hinder their ability to track and measure their impact effectively.
Sustainability data—including emissions, water usage, and waste—was scattered across multiple spreadsheets, managed by a single individual. This fragmented system made it difficult to track trends, measure progress, or share insights across teams and stakeholders. With a reliance on manual effort, YCH struggled to accurately measure their progress and plan for meaningful decarbonisation.
At the same time, external pressures were mounting. Customers and regulators increasingly demanded verified, detailed data to demonstrate measurable sustainability progress. Meeting these expectations required not only robust data management but also the ability to provide transparent, credible reporting. YCH realised their existing approach was no longer sufficient to achieve their goals.
The Solution
To address their challenges, YCH sought a solution that would centralise their emissions data, streamline operations, and enable more strategic decision-making. Partnering with Zevero provided the tools and expertise needed to turn their decarbonisation ambitions into actionable strategies.
By implementing Zevero’s cloud-based platform, YCH replaced fragmented spreadsheets with a centralised system, consolidating emissions, water usage, and waste data into a single source of truth. Automating key processes, such as emissions factor assignments, reduced manual workloads, improved the accuracy of reporting, and allowed the team to focus on strategic planning.
Without the tools to communicate information effectively, we missed valuable opportunities. Investing in a platform to address these issues was an easy decision. With Zevero’s ties to the brewing industry, we’re confident we’re working with the right people to engage our partners.
The Results
Partnering with Zevero has enabled Yakima Chief Hops to overcome key challenges in their sustainability journey. With improved systems and processes, YCH is now better equipped to manage their environmental impact, meet stakeholder expectations, and drive progress toward their decarbonisation goals.
Key achievements include:
Improved Data Management: YCH now has a clear, centralised view of their emissions, water usage, and waste metrics, allowing them to identify hotspots at the facility level and make decisions accordingly.
Increased Efficiency: Automation has replaced time-intensive manual reporting, saving valuable time, reducing errors, and allowing the team to focus on strategic initiatives.
Enhanced Transparency: Verified emissions data fosters trust and strengthens relationships with customers and stakeholders, positioning YCH as a reliable sustainability partner.
Cultural Transformation: The creation of a sustainability committee has united teams across regions and departments, making sustainability a shared responsibility throughout the organisation.
Strategic Insights: Access to granular data has uncovered trends such as energy demand patterns, helping YCH target emissions reductions and improve resource efficiency.
Our partnership with Zevero has provided us with a powerful advocate, enabling us to share our sustainability initiatives with a wider audience, including customers, industry peers, and leaders. This collaboration has fostered knowledge sharing and accelerated our sustainability journey.
Driving Transparency and Change
Customers are thrilled with the transparency YCH can now provide. The shift from “yes” or “no” answers to verified, detailed insights has enhanced trust and bolstered relationships. Internally, YCH teams are empowered to focus on data-driven solutions, helping the company stay ahead in sustainability leadership.
Looking Ahead
With their sustainability foundation firmly established, Yakima Chief Hops is entering the next phase of its net zero journey. By the end of 2024, the focus will shift from measurement to action, leveraging insights from Zevero to implement targeted emissions reductions and actively decarbonise their operations. By identifying high-impact areas and embedding sustainability into every aspect of the business, YCH is building a framework for long-term success while addressing increasing regulatory and stakeholder demands.
In 2025, YCH plans to expand their efforts to include product carbon footprints and align disclosures with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and the upcoming Corporate Social Responsibility Directive (CSRD). These steps will enable them to deliver greater transparency, meet customer expectations, and lead the brewing industry toward a greener future.
With a clear vision, collaborative culture, and the right tools and expertise, YCH is not just adapting to the challenges ahead—they’re setting the standard for sustainability in brewing. As trailblazers in the industry, YCH is proving that responsible business practices and operational success can drive meaningful change, creating a lasting impact for the planet and their community.
