Irish Distillers announces sustainable packaging changes

Irish Distillers has announced major sustainability plans, with its entire portfolio’s secondary packaging to be recyclable, reusable, compostable or removed entirely by the end of 2025.

Initial steps will include the removal of gift boxes in the Jameson portfolio, resulting in the removal of approximately four million units by two years’ time. Consumers have been told to expect a gradual reduction in markets over time. The Midleton Very Rare 2023, releasing this month, will come in a new recyclable box, instead of wood as used previously.

The development of new paper packaging is said to be reducing fossil fuel emissions by 53%, greenhouse gas emissions by 53% and water usage by 39% across the production life cycle, in comparison to used wood.

The move supports the brand’s ambitions of sustainability and responsibility, as well as aligning with Pernod Ricard’s circular making strategy.

Gift packs which contain items such as hipflasks or drinking glasses will be made 100% recyclable and any new product launches will be put through an eco-design tool to ensure they fit the aforementioned Pernod Ricard strategy.

Irish Distillers Chairman and CEO Nodjame Fouad commented: “Operating and thinking sustainably is not an option; it is a necessity. In recent years, we have made a number of changes across our operations to support our sustainability and responsibility ambitions. Today, we are announcing new sustainable packaging changes across our portfolio of whiskeys to help reduce waste. We understand that reducing our impact at all stages of our value chain is critical and this includes packaging waste such as cardboard and choosing more sustainable packaging materials. We will continue to apply Pernod Ricard’s key principles: Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Respect, minimising waste at each step of our product lifecycle.”

14 February 2023 - Bradley Weir