Earth Day is a time of equal parts celebration and reflection here at Rally. A time to pay homage to this glorious planet and all it provides, and a time to reflect on our stewardship of the earth, and how we can all do better. While we make it our business to think about our commitment to the earth as a year-round endeavour, we treat Earth Day as a time to be especially conscious of what it means to be a citizen of this planet, and what role we as the dominant species can and should play in protecting it.
Each of us at Rally—and no doubt many of you in our greater community—have a special relationship with the natural world. Above all, it provides sanctuary—an escape from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, a playground to pursue the activities that make us happiest, and the space to feel truly grounded and at peace. We see the natural world with both childlike wonder and deep, intellectual reverence.
As a beer company, we recognize that our impact on the earth is non-trivial. Our brewing, canning, packaging and distribution processes are energy and resource consumptive. The ingredients in our beer—everything from the water and barley, to the blackcurrant and sea salt—are derived from fragile natural processes that have been functioning long before we got here. Because of this, we know that it is up to us as a company and as individuals to offset this consumption, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it is the necessary thing to do so we can continue to do what we love: make great beer, walk great trails, and celebrate wild adventures.
The last year has been a tremendous challenge the world over. The level of loss has been staggering. The silver lining for us has been the deeper level of appreciation that we have gained for the wildspaces at home and in our local communities. Never again will we take for granted the endless labyrinth of trails in the Don Valley, the wildness of the Grey County backcountry, the howling winds of Ashbridges, or the serenity of a harbourfront sunrise. Without these earthly pleasures, we would not have made it to where we are today.
The only way we can give thanks for all the earth has given us is to thoughtfully consider the environmental implications of every single decision we make as a company and as a community. As individuals, we vow to continue our year-round, hands-on support of people and grassroots organizations that are boots-on-the-ground protecting, preserving, and revitalizing wild spaces where we live. As a company, we promise to do everything in our power to reduce our impact on the environment, partner with organizations that speak for nature, and advocate for policy to combat climate change.
We have one glorious planet earth, and only one chance to get this right.
Happy Earth Day, and cheers to our little blue dot.
Sincerely,
Rally Beer Company
PS. As always, if you or your organization has an idea for how we can reduce our footprint or increase our impact, please reach out to us at hello@drinkrally.ca. We are always looking to be better, and we would love your help doing so.