Climate Change
Moving to Net Zero
Climate change is the most pressing emergency the world faces today. The climate crisis impacts people’s lives and livelihoods, the planet’s biodiversity and the availability of natural resources. The Scotch Whisky industry has a responsibility to help tackle the crisis – both through collaboration across the industry and through direct action by each of our member companies.
Transparency
Decarbonising our operations (Scopes 1 and 2) is a priority for our industry, and one that is largely in the power of companies of all sizes to adapt, adopt and improve. As an industry, we’ll use a science-based approach to reach this target.
Our 2022 baseline figure, which will demonstrate our sector’s current emissions total across our operations, will be a clear, data-led point from which we can accurately measure progress.
We plan to report on our operational emissions annually.
Efficiency
Mashing and distillation are energy-intensive processes. In many distilleries energy is used to produce steam, which is currently generated in boilers by combusting fuel. While many Scotch Whisky sites are just a few years old, built with sustainability at their heart, many others have existed for decades, sometimes over a century. Innovating heat reduction technology in historical and heritage spaces is complex, costly, and at times impractical.
Significant investments have already been made in renewable heat using existing technology, and you can explore some ways that’s being done across Scotch Whisky companies, below.
Utilising new technology
Being sustainable, being energy efficient: you can’t do that without innovation
Collaboration
It’s too big an agenda: if we as an industry start sharing knowledge, we can all get there faster.
The Scotch Whisky Industry's Scope 1 & 2 baseline emissions
In January 2021, the industry refreshed its sustainability ambitions. Among these is a commitment to decarbonise our own operations by 2040 and to achieve net zero by 2045. We have built a solid baseline for the industry’s operational (scope 1 and 2) emissions, against which future performance will be measured and reported annually.
Methodology
The data relates to members' UK sites which have a function or activity associated with the Scotch Whisky industry. For example, distilleries, blending and bottling facilities and offices in the UK which handle sales. It does not cover any sites owned or operated in the UK by members which do not have any connection to Scotch Whisky, for example a brewery or a gin distillery.
Outline
Reporting period covered:
January-December 2022
List of Facilities included in the inventory
- 82 Distilleries
- 26 Maturation warehousing sites
- 12 Blending and bottling facilities
- 19 Other sites (e.g. cooperages, maltings, offices etc...)
Understanding Scope 1 & 2 Emissions Data
Emissions reported for scope 1 and 2 have been calculated in line with the World Resources Institute's Greenhouse Gas Protocol (Corporate Standard). We will continue to update the methodology as those external reporting protocols are updated.
Scope 1 & 2 Data
|
Data required to meet SECR and GHG Protocol reporting requirements |
GHG emissions |
Associated Energy Use |
|
|
Quantity (tCO₂e) |
Quantity (MWh) |
|
UK Scope 1 gross emissions |
560,679 |
3,084,922 |
|
UK Scope 2 gross emissions |
58,471 |
379,642 |
|
UK total Scope 1 + Scope 2 gross emissions |
619,150 |
3,464,564 |
DEFINITIONS:
Scope 1 includes direct emissions from activities or assets owned or controlled by members.
Scope 2 includes indirect emissions from consumption of purchased electricity, heat, steam, and cooling.
Further Emissions Data
The industry’s emissions reported here represent 1.08% of total UK industry emissions and just 0.15% of total UK territorial emissions (Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (2024) 2022 UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Final Figures).
Further Data
|
Data required to meet SECR and GHG Protocol reporting requirements |
GHG emissions |
Associated Energy Use |
|
Emission intensity ratio |
0.93 (kgCO₂e/lpa) |
5.19 (kWh/lpa) |
|
Optional: Total Scope 1 and Scope 2 (market based) emissions (tCO₂e) |
475,369 (tCO₂e) |
3,464,564 (MWh) |
|
Out of scope emissions associated with biogenic energy usage |
73,561 (tCO₂) |
-- |
|
Out of scope emissions associated with avoided emissions (optional) |
12,579 (tCO₂e) |
-- |
DEFINITIONS
Emission intensity ratio relates to distilling only. It is based on the emissions associated with energy use at this sites. A corresponding energy efficiency figure is reported alongside.
Market based emissions are a method for accounting for Scope 2 purchased energy generated from renewable sources. A market-based figure is calculated alongside the location-based figure using supplier-specific emission factors related to the specific energy supply, e.g., using emission factors sourced from contractual instruments such as renewable energy certificates.
Emissions associated with biogenic energy usage reflect the CO2 related to the use of biomass, biogas and grid supplied electricity.
Emissions associated with avoided emissions are associated with the energy that is exported off-site and used by third-parties. This number is part of how we contribute to emissions reduction across Scotland and the UK.