When InchDairnie distillery was built, energy and water efficiency were a top priority alongside flavour. Basing our knowledge on the traditions without letting us be constrained by them allowed the distillery to install equipment uncommon in Scotch whisky industry; equipment that is important for efficiency and flavour.
Why we do sustainability
We were born efficient. For us, sustainability isn’t a new initiative—it’s a natural part of how we’ve always operated.
Our whisky is defined by innovation and efficiency, alongside flavour. Therefore, we will continue to refine our processes and actions in line with these ambitions.
Our philosphy
Like whisky-making, it’s a process that takes patience, precision, and dedication. Guided by the philosophy of “progress, not perfection,” we focus on meaningful, incremental steps forward, celebrating accomplishments while being honest about where we can improve.
It is a journey rather than a destination.
Why we communicate sustainability
Sustainability is a shared responsibility, and we want our stakeholders to join us on this journey. That’s why we openly share our progress, challenges, and aspirations.
We communicate not just to inform, but to inspire.
Energy
Water
Water
Energy
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
3.50
3.75
4.00
4.25
4.50
4.75
5.00
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Energy Efficiency (kWh/lpa)
Water Efficiency (L WATER/lpa)
Our future
We want to do more and do better.
That’s why we’re working towards B Corp certification, which we believe is the best way to push ourselves to achieve exactly that.
B Corp-certified companies aren’t perfect, but they commit to measuring, reporting and improving their environmental and social performance. For us it’s a way for us to stay accountable to something bigger than ourselves.
THE FOUR THEMES OF OUR STRATEGY
1.
Land & Water
2.
Energy & Emissions
3.
Packaging
4.
People & Partnerships
Land & Water
Whisky is a reflection of the Land and Water that creates it. Therefore, we need to care for our natural resources if we want to ensure that future generations can enjoy making whisky in the same way we do now.
We will use natural resources responsibly, exploring innovation and efficiency, while promoting healthy ecosystems, and reducing waste. This theme includes all our raw materials: cereals, yeast, water, peat, and wood, as well as waste and co-products.
Objectives
- Use resources responsibly
- Explore innovation and efficiency
- Promote healthy ecosystems
Energy & Emissions
Whisky is an energy intensive business. Therefore, through our Energy and Emissions theme we will continue to minimise energy use, maximise energy efficiency and embrace cleaner energy in order to lower our emissions and environmental impact.
Not only will we do this in our own operations, but we will support these same ambitions in our supply chain.
Objectives
- Minimise energy use
- Maximise energy efficiency
- Embrace cleaner energy
Packaging
Packaging is far more than a vessel; it’s a vital part of the sensory experience, connecting craftsmanship, visual appeal, and flavour. Packaging can be a meaningful reflection of a brand’s commitment to quality, environmental stewardship, and the future of whisky-making.
Through the Packaging theme we will design for the future, to combine beauty and functionality with wise use of materials, circularity, and innovation.
Objectives
- Design for the future
- Use materials wisely
- Increase circularity
People & Partnerships
The People and Partnerships theme recognises our commitment to fostering strong relationships within our own operations, as well as with our supply chain, and the broader community.
We will support a culture of respect and collaboration among colleagues, actively supporting local communities, and building lasting supply chain & customer relationships.
Objectives
- Promote a positive work environment
- Strengthen supplier and customer relationships
- Support our community
Challenges
Sustainability presents a complex challenge, that requires continuous learning and careful prioritisation. As whisky distillers, our primary sustainability focus has been on the production methods within the distillery—an area where we have the most expertise and could make the greatest immediate impact.
Our strategy represents the future we’re striving towards; the start of a wider approach where we integrate sustainability further.
We recognise that some areas within our control still need improvement, while certain limitations exist beyond our influence:
- Our bottles are unique – mirroring the innovation and flavour of our whisky. But they are heavy, include secondary packaging, and don’t yet fully align with the sustainability criteria we aspire to.
- We undertook a carbon footprint analysis in 2019 and again in 2023, but we still have not completed our full Scope 3 inventory, although we will do this year. We have now made this an annual task. Comparing Scope 3 data with others is difficult due to different boundaries set by each company, and differing methodologies, and a lack of transparency from others on the numbers.
- Industry data on energy and water has been gathered by the Scotch Whisky Industry for over 10 years, however their changing methodologies over the years makes a comparison possible for energy, albeit with caveats, but comparison for water is very limited. Therefore we are unable to confidently compare our historic water use against industry average, which then makes it difficult to document the effect of our forward thinking approach to water and energy efficiency.