Caring for the Land
Production that’s grounded in sustainability
Each expression of Scotch Whisky has its own character that reflects the landscape around it, with individual flavours coming from the grain and peat used in production. It is our responsibility to ensure that we use both these crucial raw materials carefully and responsibly, and we have specific targets in place to help with this.
Each expression of Scotch Whisky has its own character that reflects the landscape around it, with individual flavours coming from the grain and peat used in production. It is our responsibility to ensure that we use both these crucial raw materials carefully and responsibly, and we have specific targets in place to help with this.
We will extract peat responsibly and play an active role in conserving and restoring Scotland’s peatland by 2035. The industry uses a very small amount of peat from a handful of sites in Scotland, solely to impart barley with a distinctive smoky character during the malting process which is then used in certain whiskies to provide their unique flavour profile. Of course, peat also plays an important part in natural carbon storage, water quality and supporting biodiversity across Scotland and we are determined to play a key role in preserving and restoring this vital habitat. We will develop a Commitment to Responsible Peat Use outlining how our industry will deliver environmental net gain, and we will support the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) UK Peatland Strategy 2040.
The launch of the Scotch Whisky Associations sector strategy, highlighting the ambition of its members to demonstrate responsible stewardship for the land, water, products and packing it uses, is very welcome. We look forward to working with the Association to help deliver the peatland conservation and restoration goals set out in the UK Peatland Strategy.
Emma Goodyer, IUCN UK Peatland Programme Leader
We will work with agricultural partners to explore how we can make sure our barley, and the other cereals we use for producing Scotch Whisky, become Net Zero. Agricultural emissions are some of the hardest to reduce. We will work collaboratively to help find sustainable solutions. Achieving this ambition will help the farming industry meet tough challenges, while safeguarding our industry’s future growth.
The MAGB supports the publication of the Scotch Whisky Industry Sustainably Strategy 2040 which it considers as ambitious and in line with government targets to achieve net zero carbon emissions. As a major supplier to the scotch whisky industry, the sustainability goals within the malting sector are crucial to helping SWA achieve its targets.
Adrian Dyter, Chairman of The Maltsters’ Association of Great Britain
Learn more about the UN's Sustainable Development Goals here.
Peatland conservation and restoration
"Our peatlands are the country’s lungs, storing around 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon, and are key in our response to the climate emergency. The association between peat and whisky is longstanding and deeply embedded in our culture."
- Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive of NatureScot
Peatland is an important store of carbon and plays a vital role in tackling climate change. A significant part of the UK’s peatland habitat is found in Scotland. Our industry understands it has a duty of care to this vital resource and carbon sink.
Some of our distilleries use peat to add character and aromas into their spirit. As well as the industry’s iconic peated Single Malts, distillers also regularly use peated whisky as a base for blended Scotch.
The industry continues to use a very small amount of peat from a handful of sites in Scotland – less than 10,000 tonnes per year, and significantly less than other sectors including horticulture, and the installation process for windfarms. But, thanks to our industry’s high profile both at home and abroad, we want to use our position to show leadership on this important issue.
We have already worked with NatureScot to help steer Scotland’s National Peatland Plan. Now, our industry’s own Commitment to Responsible Peat Use covers three priorities:
Responsible Extraction
The SWA will expect the highest standards of care to be applied to its members’ extraction sites and is committed to working with third parties across the peat supply chain to minimise overall impact.
Optimising the Malting Process
We will work closely with the Scotch Whisky Research Institute (SWRI) and the Maltster's Association of Great Britain (MAGB) to support ongoing research to maximise the efficiency of the malting process and reduce overall emissions.
Peatland Restoration and Stewardship
The SWA will strive to support ongoing peatland restoration efforts throughout our membership by deepening relationships between SWA members and the organisations spearheading restoration activity.
The CRPU has been created by peat experts from across our industry and supply chain, and reviewed by stakeholder bodies including RSPB and the Maltsters Association of Great Britain. It sets a direction of travel for the Scotch Whisky industry as we work to improve our use of and relationship with peat in these three priority areas.
Net Zero Barley
Cereals, and particularly barley, are at the heart of Scotch Whisky production. Our ambition is to achieve a Net Zero status for these crucial ingredients, and to help protect and enhance Scotland’s biodiversity and soil health. We will also support our cereals suppliers and farming partners in their efforts to work towards the Scottish government’s target of becoming Net Zero by 2045.
This ambition sends a clear signal that we want to take proactive action to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from barley production. It also demonstrates to the wider UK farming community that we are taking steps to reduce emissions from the sourcing of other key cereals used in whisky production.
Teamwork makes innovation work
We cannot pretend that there will be one single solution. Instead, we will need to put in place a suite of activities with a range of partners and stakeholders to achieve Net Zero Barley.
We will take a multi-disciplinary approach, working with organisations across the farming and malting community and harnessing R&D, innovation and government incentives.
By starting the conversation now, we can influence new standards and policies and raise the issues of climate adaptation, resilience and biodiversity. The initiative supports our ongoing ambitions for cereals research to ensure a secure and sustainable barley supply. We will work in collaboration with key stakeholders – including the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) and the Maltster's Association of Great Britain (MAGB) – and work through the International Barley Hub (IBH).