Erko

Beer is the third most consumed drink in the world. But did you know that its production requires large amounts of water? 

Originally breweries used as much as 10 litres of water per one litre of beer, nowadays the modern technologies (supplied often by Veolia) enable to reduce this amount down to 3 litres. 

If we however consider the production of barley and hops required for its manufacture, this total can rise up to 180 litres of water used per litre of beer! A significant amount of water when you bear in mind the risks of water shortage that many regions of Europe and the world are facing.

With that in mind, Veolia Czech Republic and Čížová Brewery created ERKO, a premium beer made from super-pure recycled water.

The entire concept behind the production of ERKO is environmentally rather than commercially oriented. The main objective is to popularise the principle of a circular economy and break down the barriers – which are often just mental – to using recycled products we encounter on a daily basis.

We know that water used for the production of drinking water is almost exclusively just raw wastewater released into the river’s lower reaches. Nevertheless, we find it difficult to accept the fact that we drink water, however efficiently treated, that has already been used. 

This is why we chose our national beverage – beer, where breaking the barrier may be easier. At the same time, we strive to break down the psychological barrier to consuming products from recycled materials.