As sweet Irish rain quenches emerald land, it bears for us barley from nature’s pure hand...
Brewing is a resource intense process that lends itself naturally to becoming more sustainable. Irish brewers are innovative and have analysed their processes from production to packaging to keep them at the forefront of sustainable businesses.
The story of sustainability in the sector is not a new one, Ireland’s drinks producers have always been at the forefront when it comes to sustainable business practices.
- We are committed to mitigating our carbon emissions and are leading on the sustainability agenda, from innovative sustainable brewing and distilling practices to advancing the circular economy to reduced and recyclable packaging.
- Our industry provides funding for essential on-farm sustainability initiatives as part of the Teagasc Signpost Programme and other individual company programmes to support farmers who strive to reduce #CO2 emissions, while ensuring a sustainable supply of Irish grain.
- Through its Sustainable Together roadmap, the Irish Whiskey industry is working together to make Ireland the home of the world's most sustainable distilleries and whiskey brands, making a net-positive contribution to the environment and forming an important part of a regenerative and circular economy in Ireland.
- Heineken Ireland achieved the Business Working Responsibly mark, developed by Business in the Community Ireland. Heineken Ireland has also achieved ZERO waste to landfill for their brewery in Cork.
- Diageo Ireland have removed plastic ring carriers and shrink wrap from multipacks of products, replacing them with 100% recyclable and biodegradable cardboard.
- Ahascragh Distillery in Co. Galway is Ireland’s first energised zero-emissions distillery.
- Midleton Distillery in Cork is accredited to the international environmental management standard, ISO14001.
- William Grant & Sons have invested in developing the grain-to-glass production campus which encompasses distilling, maturation, blending and bottling; and represents the largest new distillery development of the past decade.
- Recent developments in packaging for beer has seen producers using non-toxic glue as an adhesive for canned beer packs instead of using plastic rings.
- For centuries spent grain, a by-product of brewing and distilling, has been provided to farmers as a high-quality animal feed.
