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Sustainable Packaging

Sustainable Packaging
Learn about sustainable packaging in the Scotch Whisky industry.

The importance of packaging in the Scotch Whisky industry can't be underestimated. Watch our Scotch Story from Yvonne at Chivas Brothers, for more on how companies like hers are working to make their packaging more sustainable.

The COP26 Whisky

To mark the 26th annual Conference of the Parties, the COP26 limited edition Scotch Whisky was blended and bottled in the host city of Glasgow, comprised of whiskies produced at 26 distilleries across Scotland’s five Whisky regions. The bottle is made from 97% recycled glass, with a fully recyclable stopper created from natural cork, recycled wood and recycled cork particles. The label paper contains 55% post-consumer recycled fibres, including leftover barley from the production process, and the carton is made from 100% recycled fibres. 

Learn more about the COP26 Scotch Whisky, including the companies which produced its innovative sustainable packaging, here

COP26 Scotch Whisky

Sustainable Packaging news & commentary

27 June 2025

Joint Statement on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees

20 June 2025

Trade Associations write letter to Secretary of State Steve Reed over EPR Concerns

01 April 2025

SWA welcomes lowering of fees under Spirit Drinks Verification scheme

10 December 2024

National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) and the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) meet to discuss sustainability in the supply chain

NFUS met the SWA in a roundtable discussion involving members of the Combinable Crop Committee and representatives from the SWA’s Net Zero Working Group.

10 July 2023

Whisky industry launches Water Stewardship Framework

The Scotch Whisky industry has launched its Water Stewardship Framework as part of wider sustainability commitments.

27 May 2023

Scottish DRS can go ahead without glass

The UK government has written to the Scottish Government setting out the conditions for an exemption to the UK Internal Market Act which would enable DRS to go ahead in Scotland next year

18 April 2023

SWA comments on First Minister statement on DRS and alcohol marketing

The alcohol marketing consultation will be taken "back to the drawing board" and Deposit Return Scheme delayed until March 2024

17 February 2023

Scotch distillers fear rising energy costs and threat of tax hike

Three quarters of Scotch Whisky distillers expect energy prices to increase in 2023 – with more than a quarter (27 percent) expecting them to double.

01 November 2021

Sustainability numbers add up for green whisky strategy

New data shows the Scotch Whisky industry has more than halved greenhouse gas emissions since 2008.

Sustainable Packaging pages

2024 UK General Election

Learn more about the Scotch Whisky Association's manifesto for the 2024 general election, and how candidates can pledge to #SupportScotch in three key areas.