Since reopening in 2001, Bruichladdich Distillery has run on Victorian-era equipment and non-computerized methods to distill its spirits, which include Bruichladdich Scotch Whisky and The Botanist Islay Dry Gin. The brand has blended tradition and innovation, remaining close to its origins while still managing to be at the forefront of sustainability in the spirits industry.
I recently sat down with Bruichladdich Distillery CEO Douglas Taylor to discuss the brand’s achievements in sustainability and social impact thus far, as well as their plans for the future, including decarbonizing all distilling operations by 2025.
As a fan of their products, it was great to learn more about this work. We explored the significant steps Bruichladdich has taken on its sustainability journey such as engaging in local farming partnerships and biodiversity projects to implementing biofuels and exploring green hydrogen energy. These measures underscore not only a deep commitment to the planet but also the community of Islay, where it is the largest private employer.
We also discussed how in 2020, Bruichladdich became the first whisky and gin distillery in Europe to receive B Corp certification and in 2023 it achieved recertification.
Christopher Marquis: When Bruichladdich Distillery initially became B Corp certified in 2020, why was this an important milestone for the brand to achieve and what were the primary factors that led to this initial certification?
Douglas Taylor: Becoming B Corp certified marked a significant moment for Bruichladdich Distillery. We’re home to four unique brands and create a number of products including Bruichladdich’s The Classic Laddie and The Botanist Islay Dry Gin, and it was a huge accomplishment to become the first Scotch whisky company in the world, and indeed the first whisky and gin distillery in Europe, to receive B Corp certification in 2020. Today, we are one of 44 distilleries globally to be certified and we are proud to be part of this growing community.
Since our resurrection in 2001, our purpose has always been bigger than making and selling single malt Scotch whisky and gin. Our commitment to Islay, supporting our vital farming partners, championing terroir, soil health and biodiversity, and considering how our essential raw ingredients are grown have been fundamental to our business and shaped our decision making.
Islay is at the heart of everything we do, and we are currently the largest private employer on the island – providing job opportunities and supporting the local economy. For over two decades we have been motivated by always doing what is right – for our people, our island community, and the planet – and our B Corp certification is recognition of this work.
Along with partnering with 20 local farmers on Islay to grow malting barley, we employ two professional foragers who responsibly source the wild island botanicals for The Botanist – ensuring the preservation of Islay’s natural resources. These 22 local botanicals are hand-foraged each year from March to October, with their health and population closely monitored.
Marquis: I understand that the distillery has implemented new efforts that led to the recent recertification and an increased Impact Score. Can you expand on these efforts and initiatives, such as how brand transparency has increased and how the company has reduced its overall environmental footprint?
Taylor: We successfully recertified as a B Corp in 2023 (following a mandatory reassessment process which takes place every three years). Beyond retention alone, we achieved a new Impact Score of 100.7 points – an improvement of 17.5 points since we first certified in 2020. From the moment we obtained our first Impact Score of 83.2 points we have been on what we’ve coined the ‘Road to 100’ – setting our sights on an ambitious three-digit figure. This internal roadmap has forced us to take a comprehensive look at our social and environmental impact – across all facets of the business – to ensure we’re making significant improvements, and our new Impact Score is an incredible step forward.
When it comes to our new Impact Score, we made the most gains in the Governance category, with a score improvement of 110% due to our transparency and accountability across the business. We also saw score improvements across the Workers, Community and Environment categories, due to improved Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies, company-wide volunteering in the community and sustainable packaging innovations across our single malt Scotch whisky portfolio.
Our sustainability strategy covers every aspect of the business and is divided into four key pillars: Agriculture & Biodiversity, Packaging & Waste, Energy & Emissions and Islay & Community. In 2023 we continued our use of biofuels on site with the aim of reducing our C02 emissions by approximately 20% in the near future and are currently looking into the feasibility of using green, hydrogen energy at the distillery. We also unveiled our biggest packaging overhaul to date, with the redesign of Bruichladdich’s signature Classic Laddie bottle reducing our packaging CO2 emissions by 65%. Sensitive land management, regenerative agriculture and promoting biodiversity and conservation are also inherent to our distillery DNA, evidenced by our recent investment in a large-scale soil mapping project. In partnership with Genesis, recognised as the most comprehensive soil mapping tool, this project will be a crucial exercise with the aim of future proofing the land.
Marquis: Bruichladdich Distillery clearly prioritizes and values its ties with the local community of Islay. Can you share a bit more about any new initiatives that the brand has been working on to strengthen its relationship with the people of Islay?
Taylor: The local community of Islay is the bedrock of our business, and we want our actions to have a positive impact on our island home. One way we give back is via our annual Community Day. Every year, our team grabs overalls, work boots, gardening gloves and tools to contribute to a day of work outside the distillery gates. In recent years we have painted the village hall, conducted repairs and gardening at the local Primary School, tidied our scenic coastal paths and organized various beach cleans across the island.
We’re also passionate about keeping as many of our processes on Islay as possible, and our single malt whiskies are 100% distilled, matured, and bottled exclusively on our island. Not only does this keep value in the community and provide job opportunities but allows us to create the highest provenance spirits possible – which truly celebrate our island home.
Marquis: Bruichladdich’s most well-known product, The Classic Laddie, went under a significant redesign this year. Can you share more about the inspiration and motivation behind the products’ new packaging? Does the distillery have any other new sustainable products in the works?
Taylor: The redesign of The Classic Laddie was an integral part of our sustainability strategy and commitment to use less and use better. Following the removal of the secondary tin across our heavily-peated Port Charlotte range, we overhauled our signature Classic Laddie bottle by also eliminating its tin and introducing much lighter glass with more recycled content – all contributing to a CO2 packaging reduction of 65%. The bottle now uses an organic ink coating and the new stopper is made from bio-based polypropylene, so, rather than being made from 100% petroleum sources, it’s made from other waste sources such as food oils or forestry oils.
At Bruichladdich we’re committed to using less, not just finding alternatives, so we stripped the bottle right back and started from the pallet up. The new, optimized Classic Laddie bottle has a smaller, reduced footprint – allowing us to get more bottles per pallet on and off Islay, meaning fewer distribution vehicles on the road.
Additionally, the single malt’s in Bruichladdich’s new Luxury Redefined range – The Bruichladdich Eighteen and The Bruichladdich Thirty (launched in February this year) feature our new decanter-style proprietary bottle which contains an average of 60% recycled glass content, is lighter in weight, and features an elegant glass closure. The single malt Scotch whiskies in the range also feature an industry-first bespoke, sustainable outer wrap. This eco-friendly outer packaging is produced using 100% green energy and is made from fully recyclable paper pulp – with each wrap perfectly molded to the shape of the bottle.
The Luxury Redefined range challenges traditional perceptions of modern luxury. Instead of adding unnecessary weight and elaborate packaging to our prestige products, we will subtract. Our new high-age statement whiskies let form follow function and demonstrate that prestige bottlings should, and can, be simultaneously sustainable and beautiful. Every single detail – from the weight and functional design of the glass bottle to the recycled materials, custom color and texture of the outer wrap – has been carefully considered to reduce our impact.
In terms of other sustainable initiatives, The Botanist Foundation, which was set up in 2015, supports biodiversity and conservation projects on Islay and beyond. The Foundation has funded projects on Islay, such as pollinator programs, invasive species assessments, Marsh Fritillary butterfly conservation and a sensory garden at the local Highschool. It also supports students wishing to study and pursue careers in the fields of biodiversity, conservation, and sustainability. Beyond that, The Foundation provides global biodiversity support through its sponsorship of the Global Botanic Garden Fund, run by Botanic Gardens Conservation International.
Marquis: I noticed that one of the brands’ goals is to decarbonize distilling operations by 2025. How does the distillery plan to achieve this next milestone?
Taylor: Small, incremental changes and better choices can make a significant difference, and we’re continuously striving to lessen our impact when it comes to our energy usage and emissions. But implementing tangible, sustainable energy solutions to reduce our emissions is challenging due to our geographical positioning, island infrastructure and institutional barriers. We have a limited grid supply network on Islay and our processes rely heavily on energy, with much of it coming from fossil fuels – but we are committed to making positive changes.
The Scottish Government has also included Islay in its Carbon Neutral Islands (CNI) project, aimed at supporting six islands in Scotland to become carbon neutral by 2040. As well as decarbonizing Islay’s local economy, the project aims to bolster climate change resilience and generate broader social and economic advantages – and we are fully aligned with this vision.
At Bruichladdich, the ultimate – and ambitious – aim is to decarbonize distilling operations by 2025 (covering our Scope 1 emissions – the direct emissions of our owned operations on Islay).
In 2023 we successfully trialed GreenFlame, a renewable heating oil which has been specifically developed as a low sulphur replacement for the light, medium and heavy processed fuel oils which are prevalent in the UK. We were the first distillery on Islay to trial this green alternative and I’m pleased to say that initial results were successful. Our plan is to continue to explore the feasibility of switching to GreenFlame in the long term, continuing our research and intent to find viable, more sustainable solutions.
In the short term we are no longer using Medium Fuel Oil (MFO) and have actively switched to cleaner grades of biofuels. It’s our aim to incrementally reduce our CO2 emissions with this percentage increasing over time. We have also invested in electric vehicles on site (with 50% of our fleet currently electric) and use heat from our distillery condensers to keep our buildings warm.
We are also working to find a tangible solution to implement green hydrogen at the distillery in the future. Our ‘HyLaddie’ project continues and our vision is to install a multi-fuel, hydrogen-firing boiler on site.
