The UK has set itself an ambitious and legally binding target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Scotland, on the other hand, has challenged itself to reach this milestone even earlier, aiming for a net zero carbon emission status by 2045.
For our industry, that equals a certain amount of expectation.
Scotch whisky is the UK’s largest single food and drink export - its valuation increased by 37% to £6.2bn in 2022, despite economic turbulence - and it is responsible for employing 11,000 people directly in Scotland.
As Scotch producers, we have a collective responsibility to lead from the front, driving innovation to reduce energy used in the distillation process and to support decarbonisation and Scotland's tackling of the climate crisis. We’ve reflected this through our own industry target, with the Scotch Whisky Association, to decarbonise by 2040 – 10 years ahead of the UK and five years ahead of Scotland.
While there is no one road to achieving net zero, it requires concerted and consistent efforts from public bodies, private companies and the third sector to build a greener, stronger economy, and a climate-resilient future for Scotland.
Pioneering technology in whisky
The adoption of tech solutions for energy reduction in whisky production can be impacted by budget limitations, access to the technology and know-how in implementation, as well as cautious senior management decision-making.
It’s those who continue to lean into the unknown, prioritising alternative energy sources like electrification and hydrogen, that will propel our ability to make whisky making sustainable over the long term.
For this reason, at Chivas Brothers we are developing and implementing several innovations across our own business, from adapting mechanical vapour recompression (MVR) fan technology for proprietary use in pot still distillation - which results in significant energy reduction during the distillation process - to alternate energy sources, like bio-gas and hydro-treated vegetable oil fuel to power our transport fleets.
More recently, we announced Scotland's first on-road all-electric tractor unit in partnership with Volvo Trucks, which adapts current heavy goods vehicles electric battery technology to push the truck to its full capabilities.
Domestic transportation accounts for almost a quarter of total emissions in Scotland. While the largest proportion comes from cars, 20% of transport emissions are down to heavy duty trucks and buses. We want to innovate in electrification to benefit industries well beyond our own, leveraging learnings from our current pilot programme to advance the development of second-generation batteries.
We believe this will truly help move the sustainability needle and would encourage businesses across all sectors to take a similarly urgent approach to Scotland’s net zero future.
Accelerating change requires both failures and successes
Decarbonisation is a journey, and it will never be an easy one. From grain to glass, we must acknowledge what works and what doesn’t, learn from our mistakes and improve the process along the way.
As we move toward more modern technologies, it’s important to embrace change and physical adaptation – historic facilities and small spaces will need to be assessed and adjusted to be fit for purpose.
Success doesn’t come overnight, and can be costly to businesses of all sizes, as we have discovered many times. Since we implemented MVR technology for distillation, we’ve had to constantly adapt and learn. While it’s an existing technology in current use within other industries, we were the first to accomplish it within whisky – and we're still learning as our roll-out continues.
We’re in a constant state of growth and change, making it critical for our teams to drive forward this progress and not be discouraged by set-backs.
We will only succeed if we do it together
We cannot work in isolation. Policymakers, producers, site operators and organisations - big and small - all need to work together and meet a shared goal to ensure the future of our planet.
Why? Like any producer we only have direct control of the emissions from our own operations, however for Chivas Brothers this is less than a fifth of our total emissions.
To become carbon neutral we must engage with our suppliers in our value chain – from the farmers who grow our barley, to the packaging suppliers who provide the glass for our bottles, as well as those who provide the transportation of our finished goods.
We rely heavily on external parties and partners to help bring down carbon intensity, which is why only by working in collaboration we will achieve our ambitions.
Collaboration is also key across industries – for example, our parent company Pernod Ricard has been working alongside Carlsberg, Coca-Cola, L’Oréal and P&G to develop a fully bio-based and recyclable paper bottle. This would result in long-term, sustainable change for a large percentage of consumer goods products used by consumers around the world.
Closer to home, we recognise that achieving Scotland’s net zero mission is of national importance – one which we must all play our part in. Scotland is an exciting, forward-thinking country, full of progressive people and striking landscapes that we’re passionate about protecting.
Lasting changes take time, but by working collaboratively, we can inspire a cultural shift with a far greater chance of success.
Sandrine Ricard is the deputy director of sustainability and responsibility for Pernod Ricard in the UK
