{"id":11463,"date":"2016-11-04T15:10:41","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T19:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-whisky-the-sobering-realities\/"},"modified":"2016-11-04T15:10:41","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T19:10:41","slug":"climate-change-whisky-the-sobering-realities","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-whisky-the-sobering-realities\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate Change & Whisky: The Sobering Realities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scotch whisky is Scotland\u2019s largest export, contributing \u00a34.0Bn to the country\u2019s \u00a327.5Bn (~15%) annual exports[1]<\/a>.\u00a0 The primary ingredients in Scotch, which derives its name from Uisge beatha<\/em> (\u201cwater of life\u201d)[2]<\/a>, are water and barley; however, climate change trends are threatening not only the economic benefits of whisky, but also Scotland\u2019s cultural heritage.\u00a0 Global weather patterns are disrupting crop production and water cycles, both of which directly impact the production of whisky.\u00a0 As the largest Scotch manufacturer with 36% market share[3]<\/a>, Diageo plays a leading role in ensuring sustainable whisky production; however, the company has recently come under scrutiny for its failures in championing sustainability and responsible business practices[4]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"cameronbridge\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Exhibit-1: Diageo\u2019s Cameronbridge Distillery (Leven, Scotland)<\/p>\n

In 2013, Diageo\u2019s Cameronbridge Distillery (Exhibit-1) emitted 134.2MM Kgs of carbon dioxide (\u201cCO2\u201d) into the atmosphere, leaving the facility as the 20th<\/sup> largest CO2 polluter in Scotland, mainly behind industrial manufacturing and energy companies like Scottish Power, which is Scotland\u2019s largest emitter, releasing 7.4Bn Kgs of CO2[5]<\/a>.\u00a0 That same year, however, William Grant & Sons (\u201cGrants\u201d), another whisky producer with 7% market share[6]<\/a>, released 184.2MM Kgs of CO2 at its Girvan distillery.\u00a0\u00a0 This difference is startling considering that Cameronbridge has an annual capacity of 100MM liters[7]<\/a> and Girvan\u2019s capacity is 110MM liters[8]<\/a>.\u00a0 Given the vast quantities of CO2 ejected by energy and industrial manufacturing companies, one could argue that the likes of Diageo and Grants ought not to worry about their relatively small carbon footprints.\u00a0 This viewpoint, however, is short-sighted.<\/p>\n

Since 2013, Diageo has invested in improving its sustainability at its Cameronbridge facility.\u00a0 The company made a \u00a365MM investment in technology that now caters for 95% of Cameronbridge\u2019s energy needs and which has made the distillery \u201cthe first distillery in the world to combine biomass combustion, anaerobic digestion and water recovery\u201d[9]<\/a>.\u00a0 The 2015 data shows vast declines at Diageo\u2019s Cameronbridge distillery yet lackluster declines at Grants\u2019 Girvan facility.\u00a0 Diageo showed a ~40% decline in CO2 emissions and now ranks 26th<\/sup> with 81.0MM Kgs released.\u00a0 Grants on the other hand has only reduced emissions by ~10%, but has increased in the rankings to the 14th<\/sup> largest polluter[10]<\/a>, despite support from Siemens on improving its sustainable practices[11]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Diageo has aligned itself with other organizations interested in climate change.\u00a0 For example, the Scotch Whisky Association (\u201cSWA\u201d), a trade association that works to sustain Scotch\u2019s role in global beverages, has also advocated for greater focus on environmental issues.\u00a0 Recently, the SWA refreshed its Environmental Strategy (Exhibit-2), and although the SWA has no authority over the actions of Scotch manufacturers, the added presence of the trade body could help producers to strive to improve their sustainability practices.\u00a0 Diageo is also a member of the Beverage Industry Environment Roundtable (BIER) which \u201cworks to reduce consumption, mitigate impacts and ensure sustainable continuity and future of the beverage sector.\u201d[12]<\/a>\u00a0 Participating and collaborating with these entities will be helpful in enhancing environmental best practices at Diageo.<\/p>\n

\"swa-targets\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Exhibit-2: SWA Environmental Strategy Refresh (September 2016)<\/p>\n

Diageo has continued to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability, with its recently completed Roseisle distillery generating ~50% of its overall energy need from onsite renewable sources[13]<\/a>.\u00a0 Diageo is committed to improving its carbon footprint in Scotland, and has worked closely with the Scottish government and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency to develop projects that reduce emissions[14]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Diageo\u2019s public filings outline their global 2020 strategy for sustainability, which focuses on water stewardship, carbon, waste and sustainable packaging[15]<\/a>.\u00a0 Diageo could go further in its efforts for sustainability and I would be interested to ask the company the following questions as they pertain to the production of Scotch: how can Diageo improve efficiency transporting raw materials to distilleries?\u00a0 What efforts are Diageo making to cut energy usage during the production process?\u00a0 Is unused water treated before being discharged into Scottish rivers?\u00a0 What efforts are being made to use recycled paper for boxes and labeling?\u00a0 The company clearly outlines its global vision, however, as Scotch is predominantly produced in Scotland, I would like to see more information about environmental efforts within Scotland.<\/p>\n

The incentive for whisky producers to be bystanders in combating climate change is very high given the other polluters in Scotland (energy and industrial manufacturing) but diffusion of responsibility should come second to the sustainability of the system that gives Diageo the raw materials and allows them to manufacture in the first place.\u00a0 As the market leader in the production and distribution of Scotch, Diageo needs to continue to lead by example, and to keep advocating for further environmental regulation in Scotland to ensure whisky continues to play a vital role in the Scottish economy for generations to come.<\/p>\n

Word count = 793<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Export Statistics Scotland 2014.\u00a0 27 January 2016. \u00a0http:\/\/www.gov.scot\/Resource\/0049\/00493251.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> http:\/\/www.historic-uk.com\/HistoryUK\/HistoryofScotland\/Uisge-Beatha\/<\/a><\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> https:\/\/www.whiskyinvestdirect.com\/about-whisky\/top-15-scotch-whisky-companies<\/a><\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> http:\/\/www.heraldscotland.com\/news\/13620849.Diageo_drinks_giant_under_fire_over_pollution_failures\/<\/a><\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory.\u00a0 http:\/\/apps.sepa.org.uk\/SPRIPA\/性视界\/ViewReturn.aspx?returnId=27003<\/a><\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> https:\/\/www.whiskyinvestdirect.com\/about-whisky\/top-15-scotch-whisky-companies<\/a><\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> http:\/\/www.whisky-distilleries.info\/Distilleries\/Cameronbridge_EN.shtml<\/a><\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> http:\/\/www.thespiritsbusiness.com\/2016\/02\/girvan-distillery-decommissions-no-1-apps\/<\/a><\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> http:\/\/www.diageo.com\/en-row\/csr\/casestudies\/Pages\/Cameron-bridge-cleaner-energy-cleaner-water.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n

[10]<\/a>\u00a0Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory. http:\/\/apps.sepa.org.uk\/SPRIPA\/性视界\/ByPollutant\/Results.aspx?page=1&Media=air&Pollutant=2&Year=2015&Sort=6<\/a><\/p>\n

[11]<\/a> http:\/\/www.energy.siemens.com\/hq\/pool\/hq\/energy-topics\/venture\/downloads\/Combinded%20Heat%20and%20Power%20for%20a%20Scottish%20distiller.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

[12]<\/a> http:\/\/www.bieroundtable.com\/about1<\/a><\/p>\n

[13]<\/a> http:\/\/www.diageo.com\/en-row\/csr\/casestudies\/Pages\/innovating-with-bioenergy-in-scotch-whisky-roseisle.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n

[14]<\/a> Diageo Response to the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee Inquiry into the Scottish Government’s Renewable Energy Targets http:\/\/www.parliament.scot\/S4_EconomyEnergyandTourismCommittee\/Inquiries\/Diageo.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

[15]<\/a> http:\/\/www.diageo.com\/en-row\/csr\/sustainability\/2020-sustainability-and-responsibility-targets\/Pages\/Default.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Does Diageo, the producer of Johnnie Walker, Caol Ila, Talisker, Lagavulin, and Oban Scotch Whiskies, need to improve its sustainability practices?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2101,"featured_media":11464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[1579,1724,1725],"class_list":["post-11463","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beverages","category-scotch","category-whisky"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/climate-change-challenge-2016\/","yoast_head":"\nClimate Change & Whisky: The Sobering Realities - Technology and Operations Management<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-whisky-the-sobering-realities\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Climate Change & Whisky: The Sobering Realities - 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