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Altia: Barley and packaging biggest carbon dioxide contributors
Finnish drinks group Altia has calculated the carbon footprint for a bottle of its Koskenkorva Vodka, with packaging and barley cultivation the biggest contributors.
Barley cultivation accounts for 40% of the CO2 emissions from a glass bottle of Koskenkorva Vodka
When packaged in a glass bottle, the brand’s carbon footprint can be measured as 2.19kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), with 43% of the emissions coming from packaging and 40% from barley cultivation.
According to Altia, distillery emissions account for 10% while end-of-life packaging, emissions from the Rajamäki alcoholic beverage plant, transportation and other raw materials make up 3%, 2%, 2% and 1% respectively.
Hannamari Koivula, Altia’s corporate responsibility manager, said: “The results of the carbon footprint calculation provide us with important data for the further development of our environmental responsibility work. We were expecting the packaging to account for a significant proportion of the emissions, and the reduction of the carbon footprint of beverage packages is indeed becoming one of the key topics in our packaging design.
“We also expected the share of barley to be high, and we are participating in the Carbon Action research initiative to reduce it. The initiative studies ways by which to sequester carbon in the soil with more efficient cultivation methods and, thereby, mitigate climate change.”
As part of its research, Altia also compared the carbon footprint of Koskenkorva Vodka in glass and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles. The plastic bottles had emissions of 1.60kg CO2e – 0.59kg less than glass bottles.
In order to increase its eco credentials, Altia is investigating the use of recycled materials during its production, and has plans to roll out lighter packaging across its range.
Koivula added: “We want to reduce the carbon footprint related to packaging. The results of the carbon footprint calculation provide us with important data for this development work. If the proportion of recycled glass in glass bottles can be increased, for example, it will reduce the package’s carbon footprint.
“In some products, such as in [punch cocktail] Blossa glöggs, we’ve already managed to reduce the weight of the glass bottle significantly, and this is what we’ll be aiming at with other products as well.”