Sustainability – ``Starting with the end in mind``
From the outset, sustainability has been central to the ethos of Powerscourt Distillery. The company is fully committed and accountable for the delivery of the sustainability plan through the provision of leadership and resources.
It was a fundamental guiding factor in the design and construction of the Distillery and Visitor Centre.
Origin Green Ireland
Powerscourt Distillery is proud to be a verified member of Origin Green Ireland, a ground-breaking sustainability programme which operates on a national scale, encompassing the full supply chain of the food and drink industry. From farmers to food producers right through to food service and retail sectors, they assure sustainability at every stage, enabling the achievement of measurable targets that respect the environment and serve the local community. Our membership has facilitated us to establish measurable sustainability targets in line with our ESG policy.
Irish Whiskey Association
We have also subscribed to the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) Irish Whiskey Sustainable Together launched in May 2022, which monitors and measures many of the same targets as Origin Green.
The roadmap highlights the measures the industry will take to reduce its environmental and carbon impact, strengthen its role in the regenerative and circular economy, and deliver a positive impact for communities.
The building incorporates the Estate’s original mill house built in the 1760’s. Local granite and other materials were used in the construction, and a repurposed bell from an Estate church dating back to 1723 has been retained on the external wall.
Internally, the original flagstone flooring, water turbine and flywheel system, which once powered the milling operations in 1901, are also retained.
The state-of-the-art distillery was fabricated and installed by Forysth’s, the leading, international supplier of distillation equipment. The latest technologies for energy conservation and monitoring systems were installed at the time of construction in order to future-proof the distillery building, sustainability performance. To this end heat from process water is harnessed via heat exchangers for use in the process, reducing heating costs and Co2 emissions. Powerscourt was one of the first distilleries in Ireland to do this!
SUSTAINABILITY ACHIEVEMENTS
Powerscourt Distillery provides employment, at all levels in the organisation, to individuals from the local area. We have worked with University College Dublin to provide an internship to an Agricultural Science student, and each year we provide a work placement for an individual from the National Learning Network of Ireland. We support many local charities and we have recently funded a defibrillator for the First Responders in Enniskerry.
We are an active member of Wicklow Naturally, a local food and drinks network, the core aim of which is to support and foster sustainable food and drinks production in Co. Wicklow. In addition to providing administrative and marketing support for the group, the Visitor Centre now uses many of the other member’s products on their menu, and stocks members’ produce in our shop.
Our in-house Food & Drinks Specialist, Santina Kennedy, chairs the ‘Tell the Wicklow Story’ Committee for the network which aims to promote the best of Wicklow food and drink to a local, national, and international audience through media and events. Gerry Ginty, our COO, chairs the Sustainability Wicklow Naturally Committee.
