Bruichladdich Distillery has successfully retained it B Corp status following a mandatory reassessment process, meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance. Beyond retention alone, the Hebridean distillery has also achieved a higher Impact Score of 100.7 points, marking a significant score increase of 21%.
Home of Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore single malts and The Botanist gin, the Islay based distillery was the first Scotch whisky and gin distillery in Europe to receive B Corp certification in 2020.
The distillery received an inaugural Impact Score of 83.2 points when it first certified, increasing this to an impressive 100.7 points during the compulsory three year recertification process – an improvement of 17.5 points since 2020. The distillery, first established in 1881, still uses some of the original 19th century machinery today, with Bruichladdich proactively retrofitting tangible, greener solutions for a more sustainable future.
Bruichladdich Distillery CEO, Douglas Taylor, said: “Since our resurrection in 2001 our purpose has always been bigger than making and selling single malt Scotch whisky and gin. From the moment we obtained our first Impact Score of 83.2 points we have been on what we’ve coined the ‘Road to 100’ – setting our sights on an ambitious three digit figure. This internal roadmap has forced us to take a comprehensive look at our social and environmental impact to ensure we’re making significant improvements.
“B Corp recertification is a rigorous process with every facet of the business scrutinised to ensure we are upholding the highest standards of social and environmental performance, and we’re immensely proud to have reached this goal. Bruichladdich is a Victorian distillery reimagined for the future, and it’s about preserving our rich history and tradition while making tangible progress.
“Our new Impact Score of 100.7 points is an incredible step forward. It’s a moment for us to celebrate where we are now but also acknowledge how much more we can do to drive change. We’re not resting on our laurels, and will continue to work to leave a lasting, positive legacy on Islay and beyond.”
B Corp certified companies are accountable for the impact of their decisions and are measured across five categories: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. Bruichladdich Distillery improved across multiple sectors, with the biggest gains coming from Governance, with a score improvement of 110% thanks to the distillery’s transparency and accountability across the business.
Additional points were also awarded in the Worker’s category, with the distillery assessed on how it contributes to its employees’ financial, physical, professional, and social well-being. Improved Primary and Secondary Caregiver policies, a raft of internal promotions and the creation of a School Leaver Internship Programme on Islay saw a score improvement of 18%.
In the Community category, the business was assessed on the economic and social well-being of the communities in which it operates, improving its 2020 score by 66%. Committed to keeping value in the local community and supporting the island economy by distilling, maturing, and bottling all single malts on Islay, Bruichladdich created 10 new roles within the three year period. Improved Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies, an increased understanding and accountability of suppliers with a newly established Supplier Code of Conduct and screening process, and annual company-wide volunteering in the community also contributed to the score increase.
A clearer Environmental Management System and a new Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy saw the Environment score improve by 11%, with the distillery making packaging improvements across the portfolio and using more sustainable materials.
Points in the Customer category remained flat, which evaluates a company’s stewardship of its customers through the quality of its products and services, data privacy and security and feedback channels.
Douglas Taylor continued: “Becoming a B Corp in 2020 was validation for almost two decades of work, and our recertification is further testament to our values-driven vision. We are continually striving to do things better across every facet of the business – committed to making improvements for our team members, the wider Islay community, and the planet.”
The B Corp recertification follows the distillery’s biggest packaging overhaul to date, with the redesign of Bruichladdich’s signature Classic Laddie bottle reducing the single malt’s packaging CO2 emissions by 65%. With no secondary packaging, containing an average of 60% recycled glass and coated in organic ink, the redesign is 32% lighter compared to the previous bottle – reducing the brand’s global environmental impact with the ability to transport more bottles per pallet, meaning fewer distribution vehicles on the road.
Looking to the future, the distillery is committed to decarbonising distilling operations by 2025 (Scope 1). This comes ahead of the Scotch whisky industry’s target of Net Zero emissions across operations by 2040 (five years ahead of the Scottish Government’s Net Zero target and 10 years ahead of the UK Government). The distillery has already started using biofuels with the aim of reducing its CO2 emissions by approximately 20% by 2024 and is currently undergoing a feasibility study to assess the potential of using green, hydrogen energy on site.
Sensitive land management, regenerative agriculture and conservation are also woven into Bruichladdich’s DNA, with the distillery recently investing in a large scale soil mapping project on Islay - a crucial exercise with the aim of future proofing the land.
For more information visit bruichladdich.com.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Amy Brownlee amy.brownlee@bruichladdich.com / 07866 838 261
Bruichladdich Distillery is situated on the Hebridean island of Islay.
Bruichladdich Distillery crafts four unique spirits under one roof:
The distillery was first established in 1881 by the Harvey brothers. It survived through periods of closure including world wars and economic uncertainly, only to be closed for seven years in 1994. The closure left all but two redundant.
The distillery was reopened by Mark Reynier, Simon Coughlin and then Head Distiller, Jim McEwan, in 2001. The team breathed new life into the community by keeping as much of their operations on Islay as possible - a legacy which continues today. They installed an on-site bottling hall in 2003, first grew Islay barley in 2004 (now making up 52% of annual production in 2023) and have since added additional warehousing to ensure all single malts are conceived, distilled, matured and bottled solely on the island. Bruichladdich Distillery is one of only two distilleries on the island (which is home to nine distilleries in total) to make these claims.
The independently owned Bruichladdich Distillery was purchased by luxury spirits company Remy Cointreau in 2012. They continue to invest in the values of the business, in being Islay-based, and in the local community.
In 2020, Bruichladdich became one of the only distilleries in the world to be B Corp certified. They were the first gin and whisky distillery in Europe to be recognised for balancing profit and purpose. In 2023 the distillery successfully completed the mandatory B Corp recertification process, scoring 100.7 points. The next recertification will take place in three years (2026).
Retour 
