Corporate Sustainability
& Responsibility
“Giving more is woven into the history and fabric of our business in a way that is unique to the industry.”
Giving More is woven into the history and fabric of our business in a way that is unique to the industry. Visit the Giving More page to learn more about Edrington’s unique ownership structure and how it shapes the way we work.
You can also take a look at some highlights of how employees around the world have been making the most of Edrington's support to give back to their communities in the past year.
Edrington has built a successful business based on the quality of our brands, consumer trust and responsible self-regulation.
Our role begins by ensuring that our brands are packaged and promoted to a consistently high standard everywhere in the world. We train employees who work in sales, marketing, events and procurement in the Edrington Marketing Code. Employees renew their training every two years and the company has a training compliance target of 95% at any one time.
We believe we can achieve more in partnership, so Edrington works with and funds organisations that support responsible consumption and work to reduce the harms associated with alcohol misuse. Here is a selection of the work supported by Edrington in the past year. To learn more about individual programmes, click on the links at the side.
In Scotland, Edrington is a contributing partner to the Scotch Whisky Action Fund, a 5-year commitment with the aim of supporting innovative projects that tacke alcohol-related harm. The fund is independently managed by Foundation Scotland. In the four years the fund has operated it has funded 37 projects.
Through its UK joint venture, Edrington-Beam Suntory UK, Edrington funds the Best Bar None programme, which raises standards in the hospitality industry.
Edrington is a member of the European Spirits Group and spiritsEUROPE, an organisation which represents spirits producers and co-ordinates a network of 31 national associations.
Through the Asia Pacific International Wine and Spirits Alliance (APIWSA), Edrington has contributed to tailored alcohol responsibility campaigns in China, Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan.
In the Americas, Edrington is a board member and strong advocate for the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. Known as Responsibility.org, this independent, national, not-for-profit organisation leads the fight to eliminate drunk driving & underage drinking and promotes responsible decision-making regarding alcohol. FAAR engages with all members of the community – law enforcement, public officials, educators, parents, and students – via advisory boards and programming.
This work is underpinned by an employee alcohol policy, which sets out the commitment for Edrington and our employees in promoting a responsible approach to alcohol, whether they are at work or in their social lives.
In a world of seven billion people who depend on shared natural resources, today’s consumers expect sustainability to be at the heart of a responsible business. Edrington believes that we can achieve more by working together and so Edrington structures its sustainability agenda around the Scotch Whisky Association’s Environmental Strategy, which is considered to be the only one in Scotland embracing an entire business sector.
Launched in 2009, the SWA’s environmental strategy sets ambitious targets driving sustainability. In addition to this, where it is appropriate for our business, Edrington aligns its sustainability agenda to the principles of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
To learn more use the links at the side.
Targets
Launched in 2009, the SWA’s environmental strategy sets ambitious targets driving sustainability. In addition to this, where it is appropriate for our business, Edrington aligns its sustainability agenda to the principles of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Edrington is on track to meet the Scotch Whisky Association's 2020 target of improving energy efficiency by 7.6%. Edrington's distilleries in Scotland are 11.3% more efficient than the 2008 base line year when measurement started.
Edrington’s new Macallan Distillery is on track to source 95% of its energy requirements from renewable sources by 2019. This has been achieved by partnering with Estover Energy to supply steam from its biomass plant adjacent to the distillery, and Helius Energy/CoRDE to supply electricity from its biomass cogeneration plant located in nearby Rothes. This will take Edrington's UK sites energy sourcing to 50% from renewable sources, significantly ahead of both the SWA and Scottish Government targets.
Edrington's Scotch whisky distilleries are on track to meet the 2020 target of improving distilling water efficiency by 10%.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s most recent report rated all Edrington’s sites as ’Excellent’.
The growing popularity of premium spirits around the world is accompanied by consumer demand for bottles and packaging that convey the heritage and value of the spirit. This is driving up glass and packaging weights, particularly in the case of single malt Scotch whiskies. The strength of Edrington's super premium portfolio means that it is not currently on track to meet the SWA's target of reducing packaging weight by 10% by 2020.
Edrington is on track to meet the target of increasing the recycled content of packaging to more than 40% or above.
Edrington will continue to work with suppliers and industry partners to find opportunities to support the industry's aim of reducing packaging. Our business will listen to consumers and be ready to respond rapidly to trends that support packaging innovation.
