Communities of practice: how brewers advance sustainable capital across supply chains

Business language is changing as the urgency and extent of change required to reach sustainable levels of economic development is recognised. The language of green and environmentally friendly is being replaced by net zero, responsible, purposeful business. Business transition will combine efficiency, new technologies and perhaps changes in business models. So where can businesses acquire knowledge and practices to consider their rapid transition at scale? Examination of breweries reveal how this sector shares knowledge and provides mutual help. We report on the values, behaviours and practices of UK breweries which are different from business norms. Breweries have short, common supply chains in which consumer interaction extends beyond retail. They exhibit consumer-product-production interaction for other business sectors to reflect on. We use communities of practice and the six capitals framework to position brewery sustainability activity which could be considered by other business sectors to support their transition at speed and scale.