Environmental Strategy Report 2012
12 Sep 2012
The Scotch Whisky industry's environmental strategy, launched in
2009, is founded on a strong commitment to long-term
sustainability. It stems from a desire to realise our members'
green ambitions to take Scotch Whisky production to a stage beyond
compliance. The Strategy sets out the vision for collaboration on
sustainability across the industry.
This is our second stakeholder report on the industry's
progress. In these early days of a long-term strategy, the industry
is making good steps towards its goals. We are proud of the
leadership the Scotch Whisky industry has shown in the
environmental arena. As the Strategy progresses, the level of
detailed, up-to-date information available constantly improves.
The industry has made an excellent start on its journey to shift
to non-fossil fuel use. A number of major capital investments are
currently under construction and, coupled with more recent
announcements, we are confident the industry is well on track to
meet its medium and long-term energy ambitions. Distillers are
becoming ever more energy efficient - despite the complex, and
sometimes costly, climate change policy landscape facing the
industry.
We now have a clearer picture of actual water use by the
industry. This report sets out how we have improved our water data
so we can better measure future progress.
On packaging, our companies are close to meeting some of the
targets set back in 2009; others will be tougher to achieve. There
is more to do. Global consumer demand for premium packaging and
high-end 'luxury' Scotch can sometimes be difficult to square with
reductions in packaging weight. Innovation is needed in packaging
design and technologies. Great progress has been made recently with
a leading Scotch Whisky producer, Edrington, committing to a
lightweight bottle for all its UK sales of Famous Grouse. You can
read more about this achievement, and several others, in the case
studies at the back of this report. Such examples of good practice
demonstrate innovation in the industry and the long-term commitment
to the environment that have been sustaining Scotch for
decades.
We are only three years into a 40-year plus programme. We are
committed to being open and transparent about our progress and
engaging actively with our stakeholders. We listen and act on
issues that our results highlight and we communicate the benefits
to the environment and industry of progress made. Collaboration
helps build resilient supply chains, reduces costs and ensures
efficiencies can be shared.
We wish to thank all those organisations and individuals who
have helped shape our environmental sustainability work and those
who follow our progress. I hope you find this report interesting
and useful.
Julie Hesketh-Laird
Director of Operational and Technical
Affairs
Scotch Whisky Association