Scotch sets out ‘challenging’ environmental goals

The Scotch whisky industry has refreshed a set of “ambitious” environmental targets that it intends to fulfil by 2020 and 2050.

The Scotch Whisky Association has refreshed the industry’s environmental targets

First launched in 2009 by trade body the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), the Scotch Whisky Environmental Strategy is said to be the only one of its kind covering an entire Scottish industry.

It has now been refreshed and expanded to broaden its remit and “reflect an evolving world and changing business operations”. The SWA, which manages the strategy for the industry, announced the new targets at an event in Edinburgh yesterday.

The strategy has four themes with voluntary targets. The first aims to source 80% of primary energy from non-fossil fuels by 2050, up from 3% in 2008 and 17% in 2014; the second aims to improve distilling water efficiency by 10% by 2020; the third relates to embracing a ‘circular economy’, with the aim of not sending any general waste to landfill by 2020 and making product packaging 100% recyclable; the fourth relates to sustainable land use, which encourages the use of wood sourced from sustainable oak forests.

“The refresh of the Scotch Whisky Industry Environmental Strategy is a clear sign of bold industry intentions on sustainability,” says Julie Hesketh-Laird, deputy chief executive of the SWA.

“Sound environmental management is an industry priority and goes hand in hand with business growth. Our strategy is collective, building on the work of individual Scotch whisky producers. And strong support from governments and our supply chains will be needed to help deliver on our ambitions.

“The strategy remains the only one in Scotland covering an entire industry. It sets out challenging voluntary goals that will protect the natural environment for generations to come.”

In December last year, the Scotch whisky industry, through the SWA, said it was “on course” to reach its previously outlined targets.