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As many industries try to limit their carbon footprint and reduce emissions to fight climate change, Irish whiskey producers also look into more sustainable ways of production. But what can be done to make whiskey as a product more sustainable? Especially, as there are strict rules for its production. In this blog post, we’ll have a look at Irish whiskey brands and their acts towards more sustainability in Irish whiskey production.

Irish Whiskey production is a big industry branch in Ireland, and its products are sold all over the world. Because of that, there is also a lot of potential to save resources and energy and reduce emissions. Many Irish whiskey brands have already started on their way towards more sustainability, and many are part of movements committed to a more sustainable production. Distilleries like Powerscourt, PortMagee, Pearse Lyons, Teeling, Glendalough and Clonakilty, for example, are part of the Origin Green program, which aims to make Irish food and beverages a trusted sustainable choice for people from all over the world. Also, the Irish Whiskey Association presented a roadmap towards more sustainability, setting goals like reducing carbon impact, fostering a regenerative and circular economy and having a positive impact on Ireland’s nature and people.

But what are the brands doing to improve sustainability in Irish whiskey production?

Using renewable energy and reduce carbon

Producing, packing and distributing whiskey is an energy-consuming process. Here is the first spot, where brands can improve towards more sustainability. Solar panels, wind turbines, and hydroelectric systems can be implemented to power stills and production facilities.

One of the brands using renewable energy is Teeling, having PV Solar Panels on the roof of its distillery, which generate 30% of the company’s energy requirements. Some distilleries also have installed biomass boilers that use organic waste from the production process to generate energy, creating a closed-loop system. Using electric vehicles for distribution can help in lowering emissions across the supply chain as well.

More eco-friendly and recycled packaging

Some whiskey bottles are known all over the world for their design. However, the labels have changed over the years, and many also change now – or at least the materials they are made out of, to make room for a more sustainable design. Also, the packaging the bottles come in can be made out of recycled materials, glass bottles can be recycled and some brands are even exploring innovative alternatives like paper-based bottles to reduce carbon emissions further.

Sustainable sourcing of ingredients

All the ingredients used in whiskey, such as malt and grain, can be produced more sustainably. Many brands already use sustainable grain and even more receive their ingredients from Irish farmers, thus supporting the local economy and also making sure that logistics only needs to cover shorter distances, emitting less carbon. Sustainable agriculture, which minimizes the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, also fosters better biodiversity.

Not an ingredient, but certainly an extremely important part of Irish whiskey production are the wooden casks. Also in their case, sustainable sourcing is an effective way to make a positive impact on the environment. Sustainable whiskey brands promote the responsible use of wooden casks and plant new trees in exchange for the ones taken for the whiskey casks.

Improve water conservation

Water is essential to whiskey production, from mashing barley to cooling stills. To reduce their water usage, more and more distilleries try their best to recycle the water they use. After the water has run through several cycles, they also make sure that it is safely returned to the environment.

As you can see, Irish whiskye brands have taken on their responsibility for the environment and improve their production, logistics and packaging to be more sustainable. Some changes have already been made and some are to be developed for the future. However, experiments like paper-based bottles already show that there is still much more to come regarding sustainability in Irish whiskey production.

header photo: Jean Carlo Emer on Unsplash

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