CHEERS TO A BETTER PLANET
Green Energy: Leaner & Greener Production Facilities Distillation of beverage alcohol requires much energy, to drive everything from forklifts to pumps and bottling lines, and to power boilers that warm fermentations and produce steam to heat tanks and stills. At Bruichladdich Distillery on the Scottish isle of Islay, a circulatory heating system recycles the distillery’s hot wastewater, capturing it to warm other facilities and processes. It’s powered by 100 percent renewable energy, sourced from within the United Kingdom. In recent years, the Victorian-era distillery has cultivated barley on their own on-site farm, reducing their global footprint even further. On another remote island an ocean away, Mount Gay Rum in Barbados is preserving their tropical paradise for future generations. They have installed solar photovoltaic panels to capture island sunshine to power their distillery and are exploring wind energy and biogas options to further reduce their need for fossil fuels. They also recycle the crushed plants that yield sugar cane juice, using them to return nutrients to the earth. Innovative Packaging: Reinventing the Ring, Bottle & Package While glass bottles and aluminum cans can, of course, be recycled, the alcoholic beverage industry is looking closely at ways that packaging can further reduce environmental impact. This might mean lighter or reusable bottles, fewer paper labels and less packaging or rethinking the vessel completely. The Isle of Wight Distillery, located off the south coast of England, is committed to plastic-free packages that respect their remote island location. Their unique marine-inspired bottles are crafted from recyclable glass, with natural cork closures. They are beautiful enough to keep and reuse as vases or decanters. Located in a remote and delicate ecosystem on Vancouver Island’s west coast, Tofino Brewing could not in good conscience use plastic six-pack rings, which are dangerous to aquatic life and contribute to the growing problem of microplastic pollutants. Instead, the brewery, which is powered by renewable hydroelectricity, pioneered
The Hyladdie project is exploring hydrogen-powered whisky production.
Mount Gay practises sustainable farming and water conservation.
Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie Single Malt Scotch Whisky $84.99 United Kingdom 368456 Mount Gay Eclipse Rum $34.49 Barbados 123422
Winner of the American Distilling Institute’s Best Eco- Packaging Award.
BC Green Business gold certified member.
Tofino Blonde Ale
$13.79 BC Craft 37468 4 × 473 ml Isle of Wight Mermaid Gin $85.99 United Kingdom 61810 700 ml
the use of EcoRings. The rings are made completely from agricultural fibre waste and hold the brewery’s can packs and environmental vision together safely.
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