How far we've come

The Scotch Whisky industry's sustainability journey began more than a decade ago - find out how far we've come and where we're headed.

Sustainable Scotch

The Scotch Whisky industry has been on a sustainability journey for more than a decade.

We first published an environmental strategy in 2009, detailing ambitious targets on emissions, water use and waste to landfill for the industry to collectively work towards. Since then:

Greenhouse gas emissions in the industry have reduced by a third
Primary energy use from non-fossil fuel sources has gone from 3% to 28%
We’ve seen a 75% decrease in waste to landfill since 2016
Water efficiency has improved by 22%

Our 2040 Strategy

The Scotch Whisky Sustainability Strategy was launched in 2021 and has the full backing of the SWA’s membership.

Together, the industry has committed to:

Reach net zero in our own operations by 2040, five years ahead of the Scottish Government’s net zero target, and 10 years ahead of the UK Government’s
Ensure that all new packaging is compostable, recyclable or reusable by 2025
Improve our water use and make sure all companies are within a responsible usage range by 2025
Working to conserve and restore Scotland’s biodiversity – including peatlands – and deliver environmental benefits by 2035.

Learn more about the Scotch Whisky industry’s strategy for Sustainable Scotch here.