Scottish family-owned company, Ian Macleod Distillers has released its first Environmental Social Governance (ESG) report setting out its sustainability plans and its ambition to target operational net zero emissions by 2040.
This report is in line with the Scotch Whisky Association ambitions and the industry at large.
The report sets out the company’s roadmap towards operational net zero by focusing on its six key sustainability pillars:
- Reduce carbon emissions
- Promote circular economy
- Protect and preserve water
- Improve biodiversity
- Promote Green Tourism
- Support our communities
Ian Macleod’s owner and Managing Director, Leonard Russell commented: “Our relationship with our planet is a top priority for the Ian Macleod team and our customers.
“We are doing, and will continue to do, our very best. It is a journey, and we are committed to making a difference and doing the right thing for our communities and environment.”
Reducing carbon emissions per litre of alcohol produced is a key part of meeting the target. This will be achieved by improving the efficiency of the company’s operations, and wherever possible transition to renewable energy in the Scottish based malt whisky and gin distilleries.
Last year, Ian Macleod Distillers undertook its first measurements of its carbon emissions across Scopes 1, 2 and 3; the outcome is that 80% of its emissions are in Scope 3.
Of the Scope 3 emissions (which include all indirect emissions from the company’s supply chain), three key areas of focus were identified.
Distribution and transportation costs, glass, and malted barley account for approximately 50% of Scope 3 emissions.
Accordingly, Ian Macleod Distillers is working with those supply chain partners to pragmatically reduce emissions and improve efficiencies.
The company’s Glengoyne Distillery is widely recognised for its sustainability achievements, as the first distillery in Scotland to introduce a wetlands in 2011 to manage 100% of its liquid waste.
Today Glengoyne also uses 100% renewable electricity.
The Tamdhu Distillery in Speyside recently introduced better process heat recovery using Thermal Vapour Recompression (TVR) technology. This will help to reduce Tamdhu’s emissions by 20%.
The company’s new Edinburgh Gin Distillery, due to open in November 2024, obtains all its energy from 100% renewable electricity and will therefore operationally be carbon neutral*.
Added Russell, “we have made a lot of good progress on our sustainability journey and we have a long way to go.
“As a proud family business, we owe it to ourselves and the future generations to deliver on this commitment.
“We look forward to working closely with our industry, our great team, our distribution partners, our supply chain, our customers and consumers, to do just that.”
In line with other distillers in the industry, Ian Macleod is exploring renewable energy alternatives and is working with Scottish Power and others.
It is fully aware that its operational net zero ambition will only be possible with significant investment and support from the wider community.
Better energy infrastructure is essential for this journey, and this requires wide support including that of, government, the energy industry, and industry peers.
*100% renewable energy means that around half of the supply is from renewable energy such as solar and wind with the balance coming from the grid.
“The carbon emissions from grid generation are neutralised by buying carbon credits (REGO’s). It would not be correct to claim this is net zero electricity hence our statement that we are carbon neutral for our operational emissions
