Sustainability in the Scotch Whisky Industry

PEOPLE

PLANET

PROSPERITY

Scotch Whisky is the spirit of the Scottish landscape. The three natural ingredients used to make Scotch Whisky – cereals, water and yeast - come from some of the most beautiful parts of Scotland. So we’ve long been determined to play our part in preserving the natural environment.  

As a key business leader, exporter, manufacturer and employer in the UK, the Scotch Whisky industry has a duty to tackle the climate crisis across all the areas that our production and distribution have an impact. Innovation and change will ensure we can continue to celebrate Scotch Whisky for the 500 years. 

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PEAT

CEREALS

WATER USE

HEALTH & SAFETY

CHANGING SUSTAINABILITY AMBITIONS

In 2009, we developed our initial Environmental Strategy, which was redeveloped into an ambitious sustainability strategy in 2021. Our strategies have evolved with new learnings, data and progress, as any good plan should. Our original ambition was to reach Net Zero emissions in our own operations by 2040. That’s still the case, but the bar has been raised, and the scale of the Scotch Whisky industry’s sustainability ambitions have changed. We have been building solid baseline data, upon which the industry can make real progress in reducing all emissions through Scopes 1 to 3. 

Developing a full [greenhouse gas] emissions inventory – incorporating Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions – enables companies to understand their full value chain emissions and focus their efforts on the greatest reduction opportunities

- Greenhouse Gas Protocol

The SWA’s role is to support our member companies through the significant legislation, knowledge-sharing, data-gathering, investment and logistics of our industry-wide ambitions. 

By working closely with our partners, regulators, innovators and other industries, Scotch Whisky can be a key player in protecting and restoring Scotland’s unique environment, while also continuing to be a modern, competitive and successful industry that produces the world’s best whisky. 

Take a look at our Case Studies to explore some incredible examples of the work going on at Scotch Whisky sites and their surrounding areas throughout the country.

WE'LL BE REALISTIC AND TRANSPARENT

We can’t pretend that achieving our vision will be easy. This is a project that will take many years. Some of the solutions and the technology that we need to succeed don’t even exist yet. Scope 3 is a significant hurdle for our sector, but we know that it represents over 80% of our emissions.

We will rise to meet the challenge, but this will take time, collaboration and policy support.  

KEY AREAS OF WORK

Our ambition for the future is grounded in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 targets to address global challenges like clean water and climate action. They foster responsible consumption and production, encouraging businesses to drive change.  

TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE

We’re going to fully decarbonise our operations by 2040. 

We want to drive our full emissions profile down as far and fast as possible, achieving net zero emissions across all scopes by 2045 through collaboration with our supply chain partners and regulators. 

We will not be able to do this alone, but we are committed to working with others in our own supply chains, in research, and across governments to achieve our ambition.  

MOVING TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY

We are building a detailed evidence base to understand how different packaging decisions impact different environmental outcomes, including emissions, to ensure we can maximise our role in the circular economy.  

Packaging is one of our main areas of focus as it has a significant impact on our total footprint, but is also central to how product reaches customers worldwide.  

 

USING WATER RESPONSIBLY

We will continue to use our water efficiently – so that all companies are within a responsible water use range by 2025.  Our 2023 Water Stewardship Framework has more detail on how we’ll support our member companies to do this. 

CARING FOR THE LAND

We will play an active role in the wider conservation and regeneration of Scotland’s peatlands and arable agriculture, to minimise and reduce the impact of extraction and farming in recent decades. Our Commitment to Responsible Peat Use is the first step in ensuring accountability for activity across the industry. 

Our work in our cereal supply chains is deepening and we have a new work programme based on a collaboration of key supply chains to inform our next steps as we look to support regenerative agriculture, drive down emissions and support our partners and growers in delivering changes for the benefit of all.