Bruichladdich is ‘B Corp’ Certified

IN The Distillery 18th May 2020/by Christy McFarlane

As of Tuesday 19^th May, 3,327 companies, in 150 industries, across 71 countries are B corp certified. We are immensely proud to announce that we are part of this global community.

Some of you will already be familiar with B Corp, others will have no idea what we’re referring to, and that’s completely understandable considering how uncommon this certification is in the world of spirits. There are only six distilleries globally that have achieved the status, some making vodka or rum, others limoncello or gin. We are the only whisky and gin distillery in Europe to meet the stringent standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency; it took us over a year to complete the detailed submission process. Headframe Spirits, based in the USA, is the only other distiller of whisky in the B Corp directory – so we’re in brilliant company, with room for many more.

Set up in 2006, the B Corp certification process was organised to help mission-driven businesses protect and improve their positive impact over time. Acknowledging that governments and non-profits can only go so far in driving change, we join numerous for-profit businesses that balance profit and purpose, helping to tackle some of the challenges our modern societies face.

Highlights that have helped us to achieve our certification include our benefits package to staff. These include Living Wage employment, a 5-10% bonus scheme shared for 100% of our staff, annual cost of living adjustments as well we private healthcare, life assurance provisions and 34 days paid annual leave as standard. We’re also a diverse employer with a sound training and development program, including 50%+ female management and an age range of staff spanning from 19 to 75 years of age.

Our progressive attitude towards our community and sustainability have also helped us qualify. We currently circulate the wastewater from our stills to heat our offices, bottling hall and visitor centre. This year, we switched to 100% green electricity, sourced within the UK. We have ambitious plans for the future, and we can confidently say we are on our way.

Of people and place

“It’s clear the values at the heart Bruichladdich are completely aligned with the B Corp movement’s objectives – that we value place and people, as well as profit – and therefore it was an obvious next step for us.” Says Douglas Taylor, CEO.

“It’s validation that the transparent, sustainable, community minded business we’ve been running since 2001 is a worthwhile project. We are now officially part of a global movement of leaders and like-minded consumers who use business as a force for good. We stand shoulder to shoulder, working together to create a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

“We’ve always believed we exist as an antidote to tradition, and that we have a bigger purpose than just making and selling spirits. We are therefore incredibly proud of what has been achieved. This is really the beginning, and there are many more advances we can make to ensure we continue to achieve the highest possible standards of social and environmental performance.”

Douglas Taylor, our CEO

Here is a full timeline of significant milestones on a journey we are emphatically set to continue.

2001 – Re-opened after seven years of closure. Would win Distillery of the Year for the first time, again subsequently in 2003, 2006 and 2007.

2003 – Opening of on-site bottling hall, no longer outsourced to Scottish Mainland

2003 – Organic barley first harvested, farms used since at Mid Coul, Coulmore, Mains of Tullibardine and now Pitgaveny Estate

2004 – Farming partner Raymond Stewart grows first malting barley on the island for Bruichladdich, the first time it is traced and distilled separately in living memory. In 2020, a total of 21 farms have sown seed that will go to make Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore whiskies.

2005 – Bruichladdich wins Queen’s Award for Enterprise

2005 – Ancient landrace Bere barley first grown on Islay, then Orkney in subsequent years

2010 – Energy from anaerobic digester tested

2011 – Winner of The Energy Institute Environment Award

2011 – Biodynamic barley first distilled, from B-Corp certified farm – Yatesbury House

2011 – Circulation system installed, using wastewater from the stills to heat distillery offices, bottling hall and visitor centre

2015 – Construction of Coultorsay warehouses started, future proofing all-Islay maturation, commitment made since 2001

2015 – Sponsorship of PS Racing begins; solo trans-Atlantic sailor and engineer active in renewables research including ‘race to zero emissions’

2016 – The Botanist Foundation established; provides ongoing support of RSPB on Islay, Nature of Scotland award, wildflower project and funding for a PHD student to explore conservation of juniper.

2017 – Planting of 7,500 trees around the Coultorsay warehouses

2017 – Collaborative research with the Islay Pollinator Initiative funded by The Botanist Foundation

2017 – First grow Islay rye with farmer Andrew Jones, introducing additional grain into crop rotation

2018-2019 – 126 tonnes of landfill recycled diverted (recycled or reused)

2018 – Purchase of 30 acres of land, named Shore House Croft, intended for sustainable agriculture R & D

2019 – Certified as Living Wage Employer. Improved maternity pay and flexible working introduced. Cycle to work scheme introduced and +11% headcount recruited

2019 – Distillery introduces two fully-electric cars for business travel

2019 – The Botanist Foundation begins partnership with the Botanic Gardens Conservation International, supporting their Global Botanic Garden Fund

2020 – From 1st May, 100% of the distillery’s electricity is sourced renewably in the UK

2020 – Packaging reduction will see option of ‘no outer tin’ offered to online customers

2023 – On-site maltings due to be installed subject to planning permission, will close loop on all-Islay process where growing, malting, distillation, maturation and bottling will take place on the island

2025 – Plan to use renewable energy to power our production process

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