Re-imagining the industry for a greener better future
Sandrine Ricard
Director Sustainability & Responsibility Communications Pernod Ricard / Chivas Brothers
I was pleased to share the recent news of the latest milestone in Chivas Brothers' sustainability journey - an open-source initiative that will pave the way for a more sustainable future for the Scotch whisky industry.??
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This sees Chivas Brothers making its carbon-cutting successes 'open source,' aiming to help the entire Scotch whisky industry achieve its net-zero goals.??
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This is not just about technological breakthroughs; it's about fostering collaboration within the industry and prioritising a shared vision for a sustainable future.?
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This work is also very much in line with Pernod Ricard’s wider 'Good Times from a Good Place' strategy for sustainability and responsibility, and part of our organisational commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 12 and 14.?
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To achieve this, Chivas Brothers is investing in cutting-edge heat recovery technologies, which have already resulted in a 48% reduction in energy consumption and a 53% decrease in carbon emissions at its Glentauchers distillery in Scotland.??
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By implementing these technologies at other suitable distillation sites, it estimates that malt distilleries across the industry could save a staggering 1,756 Gwh of energy annually, equivalent to powering over 600,000 average homes for a year. While not suitable for every distillery, this has fantastic potential in our industry.?
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This is also just one great example of our focus on ‘Circular Making’ – our approach to the circular economy – as one key part of Pernod Ricard’s strategy.??
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This is about moving towards more circular models throughout our business, encompassing the products we produce, the packaging we use, and the distribution of our products. This will result in more responsible production, where we get the maximum life and value from the natural resources used to make them.?
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The ultimate goal is to minimise our carbon footprint, minimise waste and preserve precious water resources through responsible use.??
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To achieve this, we have set ambitious targets, including reducing the overall intensity of our carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, and aligning ourselves with a net-zero by 2050 trajectory through the Science-Based Targets (SBTs) initiative.?
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As we strive for carbon-neutral distillation by 2026 here in the UK, we recognise the significant part of our carbon footprint lies upstream in the cultivation and processing of raw ingredients and packaging.??
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That’s why we’re adopting circular design principles to ensure that 100% of our packaging becomes recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025.??
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We’re also proud to work with our supply chain to help reduce our overall carbon footprint linked to the procurement of packaging and agricultural materials as well as transportation, and we’re collaborating with grower groups to help decarbonise farms.??
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Earlier this year, Chivas Brothers also put into service of Scotland’s first on-road all-electric tractor unit in partnership with electromobility market leader Volvo Trucks, which supports this goal. The truck is capable of hauling approximately 24 tonnes of whisky per journey and will cover at least 62,000 miles per annum, cutting Chivas Brothers’ carbon emissions by 155 tonnes each year.?
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We are also deeply committed to preserving the planet's most precious resource - water. This plays a vital role in the production of many of our products.?
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As a result, we have introduced innovative technologies such as water-cooling systems to achieve zero water loss at our distilleries. Overall, we aim to achieve another 20% reduction of water use intensity by 2030.?
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Pernod Ricard are also proud signatories of the UN Business Ambition for 1.5°C and the World Federation of Advertisers Planet Pledge, driving us towards a net-zero carbon reduction in line with a 1.5°C future. By continuously applying the principles of Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Respect, we can pave the way towards a more sustainable future.?
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Our journey towards sustainability does not end here. We are always actively working on reducing our carbon footprint across our value chain, introducing circular packaging solutions, and rethinking our use of resources to protect the environment for generations to come.?
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The recent news from Chivas Brothers is the latest step in this work at Pernod Ricard in the UK – and I look forward to sharing more of these in the future.?
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Join us on this transformative journey, as we reimagine the industry for a better, greener future. Together, we can toast to 'Good Times from a Good Place' while preserving our planet's beauty and resources for generations to come.?
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