Since 1843, Glenmorangie has been making whisky using water from its own spring nearby, Scottish barley, yeast, heat and never-ending patience and experience. “We respect and care deeply about our heritage,” says Operations Director Dr. Peter Nelson. “However, we do not stand still, especially when it comes to sustainability.”
In 2014, Glenmorangie pioneered a partnership with Heriot-Watt University and the Marine Conservation Society to launch DEEP – the Dornoch Environmental Enhancement Project. The plan: To significantly improve the local coast’s water quality and its biodiversity, by re-establishing enormous oyster beds, which will, in turn, attract other wildlife.
Alongside this ambitious project, Glenmorangie has worked to reduce its impact on the environment by purifying the by-products of distillation, including the waste water that it releases into the Firth. Membrane technology from Aquabio, a British subsidiary of the Freudenberg Group, is an important part of the solution.
“A decade ago, we began asking ourselves how we could protect and enhance Glenmorangie’s beautiful surroundings for the future.” says Peter Nelson. “Envisioning a Distillery in harmony with nature, we were inspired to find ways to improve our sustainability even further.”
In 2017, the company took a big step towards realizing its vision by opening a state-of-the-art treatment plant for the Distillery. Within the plant, the by-products of distillation are broken down by bacteria in the absence of oxygen – a process known as anaerobic digestion. The results are biogas, a copper-rich sludge and water – which can all bring environmental benefits. The biogas is used to create steam which helps power the Distillery, reducing Glenmorangie’s reliance on fossil fuels by 15%. The sludge, which is rich in copper, is passed to local barley farmers, lessening their reliance on fertilizers for land which is naturally copper deficient.
And, arguably the most important outcome: The water which Glenmorangie releases into the Firth has its chemical oxygen demand (a measure of organic compounds in water) reduced by 95%, ensuring its effect on the marine environment is minimal.
Although the operating costs are low, building a unique plant such as this, costs many millions of euros. A key part of the system is a room in which business development manager Phil Lynch, of Freudenberg company Aquabio, points to 16 white 6m-long pipes. In them, the waste water is filtered in several rounds with the help of special membranes, until it reaches the desired quality. The membranes are low maintenance and need to be replaced every seven to eight years.
“It is mostly a mechanical, low-energy and robust process,” says Lynch. “We are particularly proud of the system’s flexibility: we adapt to the waste-water quantities in the Distillery and its quality.” While the process has long been used in the food-processing industry, Glenmorangie is the first whisky distillery to use it.
Eventually, the company aims to free its Distillery entirely of non-recyclable waste, and to use only renewable energy. “We are earnestly trying to further reduce any impact we have on the environment,” adds Peter Nelson, walking along a gravel path leading down to the sea. “It does not happen overnight, but when you make whisky like we do, you automatically think in time periods of ten years and more. Our DEEP project is a courageous step in this direction.”
He points out to the sea, which is completely calm today. Here in the Dornoch Firth, oyster reefs are being created, like those which existed for millennia, before being destroyed by overfishing in the early 20th century. “The oysters filter our treated water once more, as they feed – and should eventually clean the remaining 5% of organic compounds from it naturally,” he adds.
As part of the project, marine biologists began by carefully placing 20,000 native oysters on the sea bed in October 2018. Over the next five years their numbers will be increased to four million until a 40-hectare, self-sustaining oyster reef is created. This is the first attempt of its kind in Europe. It has been meticulously researched – and its success would have a positive impact on marine biodiversity and the regional economy. “This place has been our home for 175 years,” says Nelson. “We want to ensure that the Firth’s pristine habitat will be preserved for the next 175 years too.”
Source/Further information: www.freudenberg.com