Whisky - UK (2020-05)

Issue 167 | Whisky Magazine 51

Production Sustainable Distilling

magazine reported on a surge in

reports of stress, guilt and feelings of

depression (not to be confused with

clinical depression or anxiety) relating

to the environment in both developing

nations, where climate change is

often felt more acutely, and developed

countries, where the spectre of what’s

to come looms large.

Regardless of where they live,

many people generally report feeling

frustrated and powerless to enact

meaningful ecological change in

their own lives and wider society.

Unfortunately, this problem is

exacerbated by one of the more

insidious types of climate change

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from the macro to the micro level. This

narrative is, quite successfully, being

driven by vested interests that tell us

responsibility lies solely, or at least

largely, with individuals rather than

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in the face of evidence that shows

71% of all greenhouse gas emissions

originate with just 100 companies.

Of course, there’s still something to

be said for protesting with one’s wallet

and it has never been more important

that we choose carefully which products

we buy and the brands we support.

However, while change on a personal

level is important and to be encouraged,

it’s industry-level progress and

governmental policy change that will

really make a difference to the planet

and its inhabitants in the long run.

Although a bottle of Scotch is one of

the more environmentally guilt-free

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doesn’t mean all whisky is ‘green’ or

that whisky drinkers should sit back

and give distillers a free pass when it

comes to their impact on our shared

planet. After all, the industry is still

largely driven by volume and greater

volume of product means greater

resource use and environmental impact.

All along the supply chain, distillers

have serious challenges to tackle: from

reducing road miles to demanding more

stringent environmental standards in

grain production; tackling packaging

weight and waste, to reducing water

use and improving heat conservation.

There’s also wood to consider. Many

brands are famous for telling all who

will listen how much money they

spend on casks each year, while being

uncharacteristically quiet about the

measures they take to ensure that the

timber destined to become a stave is

sourced from responsibly managed and

sustainable forests.

Over the past decade, it is evident

that environmentalism has steadily

moved up the whisky industry’s list of

key concerns, as consumers have come

Although a bottle of Scotch is

one of the more environmentally

guilt-free products one might

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050 - 055 - Sustainability-WM 167 .indd 51 09 / 04 / 2020 09 : 11