Tackling Climate Change
Read on for examples of how companies across the Scotch Whisky industry are tackling climate change through innovations around energy efficiency, fuel and low-carbon technology...
Bunnahabhain Distillery
Bunnahabhain Distillery on Islay have invested £6.5 million in a new biomass facility which is set to save more than 3500 tonnes of CO2 per year. The Biomass Energy Centre will run entirely off of draff – a Scotch Whisky bi-product – and forest biomass, wood chippings from low value timber felled on Islay, 15 miles away. Ash from the nutrient rich biomass fuel will then be used as natural fertiliser for the replanted forest, creating a circular model for sustainability.
The Biomass Energy Centre is set for completion in March 2022, and will produce more than 14,000,000kWh of steam energy each year, which is currently fuelled by fossil fuels. The project puts the distillery on track to be Islay’s first net zero distillation process distillery.
Learn more about the initiative here.
GlenDronach Distillery
The second oldest distillery in Scotland had previously been powered with a steam boiler fired with oil, but has now been converted to use Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) as their main fuel in order to save on greenhouse gas emissions.
The upgrades included more efficient burner systems which had been optimised for LPG, plus the infrastructure required for the LPG and its storage. Liquid Petroleum Gas is an efficient, low carbon fuel that is stored in liquid form. Changing the fuel from oil to LPG has resulted in reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by more than 10% per unit of production, which will help the site meet future ambitions to reduce its emissions event further.
The change also means that fuel oil is no longer stored in bulk on site, which reduces the risk to the surrounding environment.
Glenfiddich
In July Glenfiddich became the first global spirits brand to start converting its transport fleet to run on green biogas made from the residues of its own distilling process. Specially developed technology is used to convert production wastes and residues into an Ultra-Low Carbon Fuel (ULCF) gas that produces minimal carbon dioxide, which in turn reduces CO2 emissions by 95%, removing 250 tonnes of CO2 every year.
The biogas is now beginning to power specially converted trucks that handle transport associated with a number of the stages of production of the Glenfiddich spirit.
Tackling Climate Change news & commentary
Trade Associations write letter to Secretary of State Steve Reed over EPR Concerns
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.
Whisky industry launches Water Stewardship Framework
The Scotch Whisky industry has launched its Water Stewardship Framework as part of wider sustainability commitments.
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
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
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.
Sustainability numbers add up for green whisky strategy
New data shows the Scotch Whisky industry has more than halved greenhouse gas emissions since 2008.
Tackling Climate Change 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.