Apr 21, 2026
Sleeman Breweries Receives Fifth Year of Recognition as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers
When you walk into most empty meeting rooms at Sleeman Breweries, you’ll probably find yourself standing in the dark. A second later, the overhead LED lights flip on thanks to sensors below the light switch that keep the room bright when it’s in use and turn off the lights once everyone has left.
It’s a small thing, but simple energy-saving initiatives like this, along with much larger, more complex projects and an overall environmentally conscious mentality are why Sleeman Breweries has been named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for 2026.
This year marks the fifth time Sleeman Breweries has received this national distinction, recognizing the company’s long-standing commitment to environmental leadership and sustainable business practices. As Canada’s third-largest brewer, Sleeman Breweries continues to demonstrate that meaningful environmental progress is driven by both corporate leadership and employee action.
A culture of environmental leadership
At Sleeman Breweries, green thinking runs deep. Direction is given by an Environmental Steering Committee, while national and local Green Teams run regular initiatives at sites across the country. This “think national, act local” approach ensures company-wide alignment while empowering each location to customize their green actions.
Employees play an important role in shaping and delivering sustainability initiatives at Sleeman, from idea generation to hands-on participation in programs that support water conservation, waste reduction, and energy efficiency.
“Being recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for 2026 is a tremendous honour and a reflection of the passion and dedication of our people,” said Mike Minami, President and CEO of Sleeman Breweries. “Our employees continue to help us do better every day. Sustainability is not a single initiative at Sleeman. It’s embedded in how we operate and how we approach our business.”
Why Sleeman Breweries Stands Out
Sleeman Breweries’ recognition as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers is supported by a broad range of environmental programs and measurable results, including:
Water stewardship initiatives, specifically the Sleeman Better Water Fund, an annual $40,000 grant program supporting Canadian non-profit organizations focused on water conservation and clean water access.
High-performing waste diversion programs, supported by third-party waste audits. The Guelph, Ont. brewery’s waste diversion rate came in at 97.4% and in Vernon, B.C. reached an incredible 99.6%.
Energy efficiency and emissions-reduction efforts, including strategic energy management projects and emissions tracking across all breweries.
Sustainable internal event practices that help reduce waste, eliminate bottled water, minimize single-use plastics, and improve recycling and composting.
Environmental partnerships, including past tree-planting initiatives through Veritree and alignment with the UN Global Compact via parent company Sapporo.
Employee involvement through activities like our annual One Thing Challenge that encourages employees to think of one thing they can do and one thing Sleeman Breweries can do to support a specific area of sustainability.
Awards and accolades including attaining Recyc Quebec’s highest level of certification at our Chambly, Que. brewery and a Clean Energy Champion award from BC Hydro at our Vernon, B.C. brewery.
More information on Sleeman Breweries’ recognition as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers is available on the Canada’s Top 100 Employers website.
Continuing the journey
Sleeman Breweries continues to track its environmental progress, invest in greenhouse gas–reduction projects, and engage employees in building a more sustainable future for brewing in Canada. This latest recognition as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for 2026 reinforces the company’s commitment to making a positive, lasting impact—for its people, its communities, and the environment.