Sustainability in Distilling
The distillery industry in South Australia is a vibrant and growing sector, recognised for its innovation in spirits production and its commitment to sustainability.
With over 100 spirit producers currently operating, the industry not only contributes significantly to the State’s economy through sales and employment but enhances tourism with Distillery Doors offering unique visitor experiences.
Future growth projections could see the number of local producers grow to 150 and industry sales triple by 2031, with 2,300 South Australians employed by the sector.
Sustainability is a core value for South Australian distillers, who have pledged as a sector to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 (Spirits Industry Blueprint, 2022).
This commitment to sustainability is crucial, considering the industry’s energy and resource usage and carbon emissions, particularly from energy needed for distilling and its use of glass bottles.
The Australian Government also recently passed laws for mandatory sustainability reporting by Australian businesses. Over the next several years many Australian businesses will be required to annually report their Scope 1, 2 and/or 3 (GHG) emissions.
Distillers SA secured funding from Green Industries SA in 2023 under the Lead Educate Assistant Promote (LEAP) grant program. This program enabled Distillers SA and Colby Phillips Advisory to;
- conduct a consumer and business materiality assessment;
- conduct a sustainability audit of 4 local SA distilleries and identify opportunities for improvement; and
- develop the Distillers Guide to Sustainability (resource library and practical guide).
All of this work informed the development of a series of 11 free, downloadable educational modules for South Australian distillers. The modules are self-guided and provide distillers with information about sustainability concepts and principles, as well as practical examples to assist in improving energy and resource efficiency, reducing GHG emissions and waste, and minimising environmental impact.
An Introduction to Sustainability in Distilling
Module 1 – Why Sustainability in Distilling, Why Now?
Key reasons SA distilleries should consider commencing investing in sustainability improvement.
Module 2 – Sustainability Principles & Concepts
General principles and practices that can help distilleries boost sustainability. Keeping them front of mind can help guide sustainability improvement and maximise successful outcomes.
This module also defines some key concepts in sustainability including, net zero (GHG – greenhouse gas) emissions, renewable energy, the waste hierarchy and the circular economy.
Module 3— Understanding Resource and Energy Use in Distilling
Producing spirits requires resources and energy, not only at the distillery but also in the supply chain that provides materials, products, and services to distilleries. View a diagram and explanations of key resources and energy use in distilling, and the wider supply chain and the Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions (GHG – greenhouse gas) and waste produced.
Module 4— Data collection to understand your distillery’s energy, resource usage and waste management
To improve your sustainability position, it is important to understand the baseline of what energy and resources you presently use and the waste generated and recycled from your distillery operations or process. This baseline will also enable you to calculate how much they cost, and the emissions they generate. A simple online tool is included for distilleries to begin to collect their data.
Module 5— Getting Started— Setting Your Sustainability Objectives
Once you have collected your sustainability data and identified your baseline sustainability performance (Module 4) you can begin to set clear, measurable objectives to improve sustainability in your business. Follow the steps outlined in the worksheet included and be inspired by some sustainability examples provided for distilleries.
Module 6— Energy: Improving Energy & Resource Usage in Distilleries
Detailed examples and practical distillery case studies about becoming more energy efficient, smart energy procurement and adopting renewables and 100% net renewable energy.
Module 7— Water: Becoming more water efficient in distilleries
Detailed examples and practical distillery case studies about becoming more water smart and recycling and reusing (circularising the disposal of) wastewater.
Module 8— Waste: Reducing and Reusing Waste in Distilleries
Detailed examples and practical distillery case studies about reducing waste generation and improving diversion rates, and reusing and recycling to reduce waste disposal as part of the production, bottling and packaging process.
Module 9— Emissions in Distilleries
Examples of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions sources in distilleries and emissions reduction actions and distillery examples that can be learnt from and implemented.
Module 10— Getting Started Checklist
This checklist provides an initial starting point for distillers to improve improving their sustainability.
Module 11— Other Resources & Support
A list of organisations and qualified resources that distillers can obtain information from about improving their sustainability and who may be able to provide funding support or deliver grant programs.
The knowledge and content within the Introduction to Sustainability in Distilling Modules has been informed by technical advice and input from Colby Phillips Advisory in consultation with SA distilleries and under the management of Distillers SA.
The development of these modules would not have been possible without the generous funding and collaborative support of Green Industries SA through its Lead-Educate-Assist-Promote (LEAP) Grant program.
The design of these modules was created by Adelaide based, drinks specialist, Parallax Design.
