20/02/2023
The drinks industry and whisky in particular is facing increasing commercial challenges, especially when it comes to green issues.
As well as CO2 capture and the recent hotly debated Deposit Return Scheme for cans and bottles. Now, perhaps understandably, the use of peat is under threat.
The heavy use of peat for malt production has already exhausted some peat deposits significantly. Around Campbeltown no more peat is dug, so it must be brought in from more remote areas like Islay. That said, the Scottish whisky industry uses less than 1% of the peat extracted in the country – 99% of peat is used for heating homes and as industrial fertiliser. Read more here:
https://thehighlandtimes.com/ending-the-sale-of-peat-in-scotland/
Details of the Deposit Return Scheme and the controversy surrounding it can be found here:
https://depositreturnscheme.zerowastescotland.org.uk/
https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/scotlands-bottle-deposit-scheme-scottish-secretary-calls-for-rethink-on-scotlands-deposit-return-scheme-4024110
Phasing out use of peat to protect the environment The sale of peat is set to be banned in Scotland, as part of wider plans to protect peatlands and reduce carbon emissions. As most extracted peat is used for horticulture, the Scottish Government is looking for views from gardeners and commercial gr...
