Read our 2023-2024 Carbon Footprint Report

What is Net Zero?

“Net zero” is everywhere right now and is thrown around in almost meaningless fashion in the same way the word “sustainable” is. But what does it actually mean and how can we achieve it?

Net zero means reducing your greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible, and then balancing out any remaining emissions by removing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere. It sounds simple, but achieving it is not.

It begins with the data

We can’t manage what we don’t measure. That’s why we’ve been working to measure our emissions through annual greenhouse gas data collection which allows us to create our Carbon Footprint Report 2023-2024 (we are still working on data for 2024-2025), and set climate targets.

Pulling together the data has taken time. We still don’t have a complete picture—especially for Scope 3, which includes all the indirect emissions in our supply chain—but we’re working to build a fuller inventory.

Greenhouse gas accounting is a challenge, and meeting science-based reduction targets is tougher still—particularly when most emissions come from Scope 3, which we don’t directly control.

What We’re Doing About It

Scope 1 & 2: Direct Emissions

This includes the gas and electricity we use, and these scopes are the priority. We have already:

• Installed a hydrogen-ready boiler
• Started exploring the potential to replace all our gas with green hydrogen
• Switched to 100% renewable electricity
• Send all our draff and pot ale to an AD plant where it is turned into biomethane and put back into the grid which we use for our gas

And although we were built energy and water efficient at the distillery, we will continue to look for efficiencies.

Scope 3: Supply Chain Emissions

This is where most of our footprint lies. One of the biggest contributors is barley — specifically the growing. That’s why we’ve partnered with Muntons and Balgonie Estates on a cover crop project to lower emissions at the growing stage, while Muntons continue to reduce the emissions at the malting stage. Since we haven’t completed our full Scope 3 inventory yet, we are missing information on where our other hotspots might lie, but we suspect transportation will be a big one.

Our approach to Net Zero

We are learning a lot as we go, but here’s how we’re approaching the challenge, which initially for us is quite focused on the data inventory:

• Showing our working and sharing our thinking
• Being open about what’s incomplete
• Welcoming scrutiny, questions, and collaboration

Have thoughts or questions? Want to challenge us or share ideas? Email us at carbonfootprint@inchdairniewhisky.com