Investing in the planet

From craft distilleries nestled in the hills of Connemara to iconic breweries in the heart of Dublin, Ireland’s drinks industry is undergoing a quiet revolution. As global demand for environmentally conscious products grows, Irish producers are embracing sustainability not just as a trend, but as a core value. Driven by a mix of tradition, innovation, and necessity, the industry is reimagining everything from water usage and energy efficiency to packaging and supply chains. This feature explores how some of Ireland’s most beloved drinks brands—and the emerging players challenging the status quo—are working to ensure that every pour comes with a lighter environmental footprint.

Sustainable hydration solution

Britvic strives for its vision of a world where great packaging never becomes waste

Britvic Ireland launches Aqua Libra Still and Sparkling Cans. A commitment to sustainability is at the heart of its strategy and the company strives for its vision of a world where great packaging never becomes waste. This year Britvic Ireland will celebrate 10 years of Origin Green membership and during that time significant progress has been made in packaging sustainability including 56% average recycled content in PET bottles, the implementation of a national

Deposit Return Scheme supporting packaging circularity and portfolio expansion. Progress is particularly well demonstrated in the water portfolio. The iconic Ballygowan Natural Mineral Water and Hint of Fruit range is available in a range of fully recyclable options: 100% PET, glass and refillable watercooler bottles. Bottled at source in Newcastlewest, Co Limerick, in a site  which has achieved a 99% reduction in direct emissions since 2017.
Recently, Britvic Ireland has launched Aqua Libra finely filtered water. Aqua Libra offers a range of sustainable hydration solutions and the brand has committed to never using plastic in its primary packaging. Aqua Libra’s core portfolio is a range of premium filter taps which serve chilled, sparkling, boiling and even flavoured water at the touch of a button. In February, Aqua Libra launched finely filtered Still and Sparkling in a can designed to appeal to consumers seeking pure hydration on-the-go who actively reject plastic packaging.

Rye River Brewing Company is leading the charge for sustainability

Tom Cronin, founder & CEO of Rye River Brewing Company and Alan Clarke, Pinergy Energy Consultant, pictured at Rye River Brewing Company’s brewery in Celbridge, Co Kildare Picture by Shane O’Neill, Coalesce.

Rye River Brewing Company, based in Celbridge Co. Kildare, has signed a one-year Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) with Pinergy, the energy transition company. This agreement will enable the brewery to power its entire operation using renewable energy sourced from Beale Hill wind farm in Listowel Co. Kerry. The initiative is among the first of such contracts to be put in place for an indigenous Irish owned craft brewery committed to sustainable energy and environmental practices. The CPPA forms part of Pinergy’s Guarantee of Origin offering, which allows companies to purchase electricity generated from wind or solar farms based in Ireland that is feeding in to the national grid.

With this agreement, Rye River Brewing Company joins a growing number of forward-thinking Irish businesses embracing sustainable energy solutions. This CPPA will meet 100% of the brewery’s annual energy requirements, significantly reducing its carbon footprint and bolstering its commitment to environmental responsibility. This move to renewable energy will significantly reduce Rye River Brewing Company’s carbon footprint, the equivalent of up to 222.5 flights from Dublin to New York annually.

Commenting on the Power Purchase Agreement, Tom Cronin, founder & CEO of Rye River Brewing Company, said, “We are very proud of the fact that by partnering with Pinergy, every KW of energy coming in to Rye River Brewing Company comes from Beale Hill windfarm in Kerry, generating green and renewable energy”. “Sustainability energy creates very little to no carbon emissions and offsets our need for fossil fuels. The transition to a sustainable energy system is crucial for mitigating climate change and creating a more sustainable future”.

Rye River Brewing Company’s commitment to sustainability has been at the forefront of the business for a number of years. They have invested approximately €5 million in enhancing efficiency at their brewery, reducing water usage by over 25% in recent years and electricity consumption by 15% since 2018.

Rye River Brewing Co. has also recently partnered with Pinergy to utilise their energy management system, Acutrace, which provides clear visibility of exactly where and when energy and other utilities such as water, are used and what it costs, empowering Rye River Brewing Co. to make data-driven decisions and further optimise their energy and water consumption.”

To date, Pinergy has secured corporate power purchase agreements for more than 220GWh of annual Irish wind generation under its Guarantee of Origin offering with demand expected to increase substantially in the coming years as more companies look to reduce their carbon footprint.

Reducing carbon emissions through new packaging initiatives

 

Villa Maria is actively progressing a number of sustainability initiatives such as lightweight glass, new can formats for the UK. Their aim is to reach net zero emission in the production of its wine by 2050 (at least). Steps they’ve already taken toward their net zero goal are changing the way they ship wine to its biggest market. They now bottle a selection of their wines locally in the UK market, reducing the carbon emissions for each wine shipment by 27% and conservatively at least 2000 tCO2e per annum. Their bottles are made from an average of 67% recycled glass. Higher recycled content means less energy and carbon emissions to produce.

They recently launched Villa Maria can’s in the UK. Villa Maria cans are bottled in market, significantly reducing carbon emissions. Additionally, aluminum cans are infinitely recyclable. The company work hard so that its consumers can recycle their bottles, as every tonne of glass recycled saves approximately 670 kg of CO2 compared to using raw materials.

Simplifying compliance

Mark Hayden, head of Membership Services at Repak

Repak, Ireland’s national packaging compliance scheme, has provided support to members for over 25 years on all aspects of packaging recycling and compliance. As regulations arising out of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) come into effect and Ireland faces ambitious recycling target sin 2025 and 2030, membership of Repak is a must, to ensure compliance and provide advice and support to Irish retailers.

Repak membership provides crucial support and guidance to navigate complete compliance, offering practical help and resources to understand exactly how your business can meet its legal obligations for packaging waste recovery and recycling in Ireland. This includes access to reporting tools, how-to guides, workshops, access to PPWR compliance experts, and clear breakdowns of legal requirements.

Repak also offers expert packaging advice, helping you choose options that are not only compliant but also efficient for your operations–potentially reducing waste and costs.

Mark Hayden, head of Membership Services, puts it clearly: “Our primary goal is to simplify the compliance journey for our members, providing them with the tools and expertise needed to operate responsibly and efficiently within the evolving regulatory framework. “Members get support on designing packaging for reuse or recycling and advice on optimising packaging strategies – essential for managing waste effectively and meeting customer expectations for sustainability”.

Through advocacy at both national and EU governmental levels, Repak actively represents its members’ interests in discussions concerning evolving regulatory frameworks such as the PPWR. As packaging legislation evolves, Repak membership offers Irish retailers and grocers an invaluable partnership. It delivers straightforward compliance support, expert guidance on packaging choices, essential resources, strong representation and advocacy at National & EU governmental level. Repak membership offers a powerful partnership. It provides focused compliance support, expert advice, essential tools, and a collective voice. Joining Repak helps your retail business confidently meet today’s challenges and prepares you for a more sustainable and competitive future. To discuss the benefits of joining over 3,500 leading retail members, from local shops to major brands, and to learn more about Repak membership contact our dedicated membership team atmembership@repak.ie.

Lambay Whiskey opens first-of its-kind offshore, off-grid island distillery

Cyril Camus, president of the French cognac company House of Camus, and Alex Baring, Lambay Island’s custodian and resident, mark the official opening of the first of its kind offshore, off-grid island whiskey distillery on Lambay Island, off the Dublin coast.

Since its founding in 2017, the aim of Lambay Whiskey, which is currently sold in 30 markets worldwide, is to contribute to the conservation of the Natura 2000-designated island Lambay Whiskey, a partnership between the Baring Family and world renowned Cognac producer House of Camus, has officially opened a first-of its-kind offshore, off-grid island microdistillery. This distillery is not just about crafting exceptional whiskey; it is about ensuring a future for Lambay Island, one of Ireland’s natural treasures, as Cyril Camus, president of House of Camus explains.

Cyril Camus, president of the French cognac company House of Camus, and Alex Baring, Lambay Island’s custodian and resident, mark the official opening of the first of its kind offshore, off-grid island whiskey distillery on Lambay Island, off the Dublin coast. “In a world that too often sacrifices the environment for production, we have chosen a different path. “Together with Alex Baring, we have reimagined what a distillery can be. This is not just a commercial operation; its fundamental objective is to contribute to the preservation of the environment and the heritage that surrounds it. “Our vision was always to protect this beautiful island and to do it by creating an exceptional whiskey, ensuring both can be enjoyed for generations to come.

”Just three miles from Dublin’sc oast, Lambay Island is a private wildlife sanctuary and home to a rare ecosystem of grey seals, wallabies, seabirds, and a medieval castle. Owned by the Baring family since1904, the island has long been a haven for biodiversity and historical preservation. Since its founding in 2017, the aim of Lambay Whiskey, which is currently sold in 30 markets worldwide, is to contribute to the conservation of the Natura 2000-designated island.

The distillery will only operate inthe winter months due to the off-gridnature of the Island. Lambay Whiskey’s distillery manager, Seamus Curtin, will oversee the distillery and live on the island for six months each year. He explains how bringing this project to life was not an easy task: “Transporting a distillery, piece by piece, to a remote island was no small feat, especially with very few boats in Ireland capable of the job and weather delays at every turn. I am immensely proud the distillery is now up and running and I feel incredibly fortunate that I get to livand work on such a remarkable island, crafting a truly special whiskey,” he said. Built as a circular, closed-loop system, the distillery reuses resources and minimises waste, setting anew path for sustainable whiskey production.

As the island has no mains power, the distillery will be powered initially by HVO, a clean-burning diesel alternative and is working to eventually transition to full energy independence using solar, wind and wave power. Excess heat generated through production will warm the nearby 15thcentury castle. Organic Irish grain will be used in the whiskey-making process, with by-products recycled into feed for island animals. This eliminates the need for imports, further reducing the island’s carbon footprint.

The distillery will produce the highest-quality single malt whiskey which, once distilled, will mature in the island’s Sea Cask Room for at least three years.

First Irish whiskey created with zero energy emissions

Ahascragh is Ireland’s First ZeroEnergy Emissions Distillery

The Irish spirits industry is increasingly embracing sustainability—but that wasn’t always the case. When Michelle and Gareth McAllister set out to establish their new distillery in the West of Ireland, they were among the few whiskey and gin makers committed to sustainable practices in producing quality Irish spirits. “As a family, we already supported those values”, explains Michelle. “So, when it came to building a distillery, we knew sustainability had to be at the heart of it. It wasn’t the easiest or cheapest route -but it was the right one. ”That route led them to the village of Ahascragh in East Co. Galway, where they opened Ahascragh Distillery two years ago. It’s a facility that is now proudly recognised as Ireland’s first zero-energy emissions distillery.

Housed in a restored19th-century flourmill that the couple transformed into a state-of-the-art facility, Ahascragh Distillery is powered entirely by renewable energy, primarily wind and solar. It uses high-temperature heat pumps, thermal storage and advanced heat recovery systems to operate without burning fossil fuels. As a result, flue emissions are eliminated and energy consumption is drastically reduced. Water usage is also meticulously monitored with the distillery’s own sourced water from two on-site wells.

Currently, Ahascragh’s award-winning XinGin is distilled and bottled on site, with award winning Clan Colla whiskey matured, finished, blended and bottled on-site. In under two years, they will release their Ahascragh-distilled whiskey, fully matured and100% sustainably produced. “This will be the first Irish whiskey created entirely through a zero energy emissions process, from
milling, mashing, right through to distillation”, says Gareth. The distillery’s innovative work has been recognised with the SEAI’s Innovative Deployment of Renewable Energy Award, the EU Foodies Winner of the Greener Planet Award, Spirits Business Sustainable Distillery Winner, and Origin Green.