WASHINGTON–Phone2Action, a leading digital advocacy platform that connects citizens to lawmakers, has been selected by New Belgium Brewing to provide its customers with an easy way to contact their members of Congress regarding the need for new legislation related to industrial hemp.
New Belgium’s engagement with Phone2Action follows the introduction of New Belgium’s The Hemperor HPA, the company’s newest year-round offering brewed with shelled hemp seeds. While New Belgium originally envisioned using hemp flowers and leaves to achieve The Hemperor’s distinctive flavor, it was forced to use shelled hemp seeds or hemp hearts, as federal law prohibits brewers from using hemp leaf and flower.
During the development process, the New Belgium team realized the many sustainable and economic benefits of hemp. For example, industrial hemp makes farming more profitable as it requires less acreage and fewer herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers than most commercial crops. It also has potential to be used in manufacturing to produce a broad range of products – from clothing to canvas & rope to health & skin care products. The discovery of the plant’s benefits, as well as the restrictive regulatory process, pushed New Belgium to begin advocating for new laws and encouraging its customers to do the same.
New Belgium customers can now easily identify and contact their local lawmakers to underscore their support for hemp legalization by visiting www.newbelgium.com/thehemperor. Throughout the spring and the summer, New Belgium will also be activating attendees at The Hemperor HPA launch events across the country, giving them an opportunity to engage by texting “HEMP” to 40649 to directly connect with their lawmakers.
“The current legislation regarding industrial hemp is ill-informed and outdated, but we can’t enact change on our own,” said Katie Wallace, New Belgium’s Assistant Director of Sustainability. “By partnering with Phone2Action, we’re making it incredibly easy for our customers to contact their legislators and advocate for the legalization of industrial hemp.”
New Belgium is also partnering with GCH Inc, the company founded by Willie Nelson and family to build brands inspired by his journey as an artist and advocate, in supporting the national campaign, Hemp 4 Victory, www.H4V75.com. One dollar from every barrel of The Hemperor HPA sold will be donated to Hemp 4 Victory in support of its mission to raise awareness and promote pro-hemp bills in the House and Senate.
“Over the years New Belgium has built a reputation as a strong corporate citizen on issues related to sustainability, sourcing and community building,” said Jeb Ory, cofounder and CEO of Phone2Action. “We are proud to help them further their mission of kindling environmental stewardship by offering an easy way for their customers to become engaged in the legislative process. New Belgium’s engagement on these issues underscores the new trend in corporate stewardship: participating in the civic process through grassroots activism and engagement.”
Over 300 customers including Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s, The American Heart Association and the Consumer Technology Association use Phone2Action to execute digital advocacy campaigns.
About Phone2Action
Phone2Action is the world’s leading technology company for public policy engagement, built to empower the advocate that lives in everyone. Since its founding in 2012, Phone2Action’s technology has enabled more than 11 million people to advocate for important issues, resulting in over 27 million legislator connections, with 25 new connections added every minute. Located in Arlington, VA, the organization serves nonprofit, trade association and corporate customers, who champion movements at the local, state, and federal levels. For more information please visit: www.phone2action.com.
About New Belgium Brewing
New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Belgian Style Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, is recognized as one of Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work, one of the Wall Street Journal’s Best Small Businesses and tops Bicycling Magazine’s Best Companies for Cyclists. The 100% employee-owned brewery is a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business as designated by the League of American Bicyclists, one of World Blu’s most democratic U.S. businesses, and a Certified B Corp. In addition to Fat Tire Belgian Style Ale, New Belgium brews fifteen year-round beers: Citradelic Tangerine IPA, Fat Tire Belgian White, Voodoo Ranger IPA, Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA, Voodoo Ranger 8 Hop Pale Ale, Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA, Sour Saison, Honey Orange Tripel, Dayblazer Easygoing Ale, Tartastic Fruit Beer Series, 1554 Black Lager, Bohemian Pilsner, Abbey Belgian Style Ale, Trippel and a gluten-reduced beer, Glutiny Pale Ale. To learn more, visit NewBelgium.com