At Maxline Brewing, we believe great beer should be enjoyed responsibly! That responsibility extends beyond what’s in the glass. As a community-focused Fort Collins brewery, we’re always looking for ways to reduce waste, support local businesses, and make a positive impact on the place we call home.
This Earth Day, we celebrated sustainability in a way that felt authentically Maxline: by launching a thrifted merchandise collection, creating a limited-edition “Protect the Only Planet With Beer” apparel line, and highlighting the environmental initiatives that happen behind the scenes at our brewery every day.
While Earth Day gives us a chance to shine a spotlight on sustainability, many of these practices are already part of our everyday operations. From sourcing ingredients locally to supporting food waste diversion through composting, we’re proud to do our part to help build a more sustainable Fort Collins community.
A Thrifted Merch Collection with a Second Life
One of the highlights of our Earth Day celebration was the launch of our thrifted merchandise collection.
Rather than producing an entirely new line of apparel, we sourced quality secondhand clothing and gave each piece new life with custom Maxline Brewing branding. Every item was unique, helping reduce textile waste while creating one-of-a-kind pieces for our customers.
The fashion industry is one of the world’s largest contributors to waste, making thrifted apparel an easy and impactful way to reduce environmental impact. By reusing existing garments, we were able to create sustainable brewery merchandise while encouraging our community to think differently about consumption.
The collection sold quickly, proving that sustainability and style can go hand in hand.
“Protect the Only Planet With Beer”
For Earth Day, we also introduced a special merchandise design featuring the slogan:
Protect the Only Planet With Beer
The message captures something we feel strongly about: beer is deeply connected to the health of our environment.
Clean water, healthy soil, thriving agricultural communities, and stable growing conditions are all essential to brewing great beer. The ingredients that make our favorite beverages possible depend on a healthy planet.
The Earth Day collection served as both a conversation starter and a reminder that small actions—whether it’s reducing waste, composting food scraps, or supporting local businesses—can make a meaningful difference over time.
Sustainability Isn’t Just for Earth Day
While our Earth Day merchandise helped spark conversations, sustainability at Maxline Brewing extends far beyond a single day on the calendar.
As a Fort Collins craft brewery, we continuously look for opportunities to operate more responsibly and support environmentally conscious practices.
Recyclable Six-Pack Holders
Many of our packaged beers use recyclable cardboard six-pack holders instead of plastic alternatives.
Cardboard carriers are easier to recycle, reduce plastic waste, and provide a more environmentally friendly option for customers taking beer home. Small changes like these can have a significant impact when multiplied across thousands of beers throughout the year.
Supporting Local Suppliers
Whenever possible, we prioritize sourcing ingredients and products from local and regional businesses.
Working with local suppliers helps reduce transportation emissions while strengthening the Northern Colorado economy. It also allows us to build meaningful relationships with fellow small businesses that share our commitment to quality and community.
Supporting local isn’t just good for sustainability—it’s part of what makes the Fort Collins craft beer scene so special.
Composting Through Our Partnership with Compost Queen
Food waste is a major contributor to landfill emissions, which is why we’re proud to serve as an outpost for Compost Queen, a Fort Collins-based composting company dedicated to diverting food scraps from landfills and turning them into valuable compost. Compost Queen works throughout Northern Colorado to help residents and businesses reduce waste through accessible composting solutions.
Through this partnership, we’re able to help connect members of our community with composting resources while supporting a more circular approach to waste management.
If you’ve ever wondered how to compost in Fort Collins, Compost Queen is an excellent local resource to explore.
Why Sustainability Matters to the Craft Beer Industry
Breweries rely on natural resources every day.
Water is the primary ingredient in beer. Grains, hops, and other agricultural ingredients depend on healthy ecosystems and responsible farming practices. When environmental challenges impact these resources, the craft beer industry feels those effects firsthand.
That’s why many independent breweries are finding creative ways to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and support local environmental initiatives.
At Maxline Brewing, sustainability isn’t about being perfect. It’s about continuously looking for opportunities to improve and making choices that align with our values as a community-centered Fort Collins brewery.
Building a Stronger Fort Collins Community
One of the things we love most about Fort Collins is the strong culture of collaboration among local businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations.
Whether we’re hosting fundraisers, supporting local artists and musicians, partnering with food trucks, or working alongside organizations that promote sustainability, we’re constantly inspired by the people who make this community special.
Being a local brewery means more than brewing beer. It means creating a gathering place where people can connect, share ideas, and work together to make Fort Collins an even better place to live.
That community-first mindset is part of what drives our sustainability efforts and why Earth Day is such a meaningful celebration for our team.
Visit Maxline Brewing
Earth Day may only come once a year, but our commitment to sustainability continues every day.
From our thrifted merchandise collection and Earth Day apparel to our recyclable packaging, local partnerships, and composting initiatives, we’re proud to take small steps that contribute to a healthier future.
If you’re looking for a Fort Collins brewery that values craft, community, and culture, we’d love to welcome you into the taproom.
Stop by for a pint, check out our latest events, and learn more about the ways we’re working to support our local community and environment.