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Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Iconic distillery on Scotland's whisky island featured in BBC global film series
The Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay has been chosen as the only spirits producer featured in a global film series by B Lab Global and BBC StoryWorks A pioneering distillery on Scotland's whisky island is earning international recognition for its green credentials, becoming the only spirits producer featured in a new global film series celebrating purpose-driven businesses. Bruichladdich Distillery, located on the windswept shores of Islay, has been chosen to appear in a new series by B Lab Global and BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions. The film spotlights select certified B Corporations from around the world that are reshaping business success by prioritising environmental and social impact. Founded in 1881 and revived in 2001, Bruichladdich was the first Scotch whisky distiller to achieve B Corp certification in 2020 and was re-certified in 2023 with an improved B Impact Score of 100.7, making it one of the highest-scoring spirits producers in the world. The seven-minute film, which debuts this month to audiences outside the UK, offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at life at the distillery, which also produces gin. From Victorian-era stills and scenic coastlines to its work with local farmers and foragers, the film paints a vivid picture of how Bruichladdich is addressing global challenges from its remote island home. Filming captured everything from croft land and rugged landscapes to the distillery's Botanist Gin foraging programme, where 22 native botanicals including wild mint and meadowsweet are hand-picked by island-based forager Kate Hannett – the head distiller's sister – in a bid to preserve biodiversity. Head distiller Adam Hannett, who was born and raised on Islay and serves as the film's central voice, said the distillery's location carries both a 'privilege and a responsibility.' 'Our location is both a privilege and a responsibility. We've always believed we could make exceptional whisky while protecting our environment, supporting our community, and being open about the challenges that come with that,' he said. The film delves into the distillery's commitment to regenerative agriculture, with more than half of its barley for 2024 and 2025 grown on the island. Bruichladdich is expanding this through long-term partnerships with local farmers, including Andrew Jones of Coull Farm. Jones, who also appears in the film, grows rye for the distillery using chemical-free methods that help improve soil health and carbon retention. The rye was first used in Bruichladdich's limited-edition bottle, The Regeneration Project. 'Farming here isn't easy – the climate, the terrain, the remoteness – but working with Bruichladdich has opened up new possibilities. It's farming that gives back to the land, not just takes from it,' Jones said. 'Rye restores nutrients in the ground that the barley removes. Every crop of barley that goes in after has consistently been the best crop of barley on the farm. It's the essence of regenerative farming,' he added. Bruichladdich now employs over 100 people, many of whom are islanders, and has introduced policies including a real living wage, living hours, caregiver support, and cost-of-living allowances for local staff. Chief executive Douglas Taylor sees the film as a chance to show that even small, remote businesses can lead major change. 'This film provides a platform to share our story on the global stage,' he said. 'We don't do things because they're the cheapest, easiest, or most efficient way to operate, but because they're the right way, and produce the best spirits. 'Since reopening our Hebridean site in 2001, we have set out to prove that a whisky business could be about more than what's in the bottle. "Focusing on our raw ingredients, making informed environmental choices, and putting Islay at the heart of our decision making has been imperative over the years, and we remain passionate about connecting land, community and dram today.' The distillery has already reduced the carbon footprint of its Classic Laddie bottle packaging by 65 per cent and uses renewable heating oil while recycling waste heat from production. It has also pledged to eliminate fossil fuels from its distillation process by 2030, 15 years ahead of Scotland's net zero target. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Earlier this year, Bruichladdich was named a finalist for B Corp of the Year at the 2025 British Business Awards. For head distiller Hannett, the global recognition is about more than whisky, it's about honouring heritage and community. 'We're doing things that nobody in the history of whisky making on Islay has done before – that's a privilege. Coming from the island and to be involved in its heritage, that's a really nice moment,' he said. 'This film is a moment for the whole island. It showcases Islay's farming, foraging and distilling traditions, that are all so deeply interconnected. Being able to tell that story on a global stage is incredibly powerful.'
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
B Lab sets out new B Corp standards
B Lab, the non-profit organisation responsible for B Corp certification, has unveiled new standards. Described as the 'most significant evolution' since B Lab's founding in 2006, the updated B Corp standards include the adoption of climate action plans aligned with the 1.5°C goal. "As the climate crisis intensifies and societal inequality grows, the standards provide companies with clarity on how they can take meaningful and tangible action on issues facing people and the planet," B Lab said. According to the organisation, nearly 10,000 companies across 100 countries and 160 industries hold B Corp status. However, the scheme had faced criticism. Last month, UK pet-food business Scrumbles went public with its decision not to renew its certification. In a post on LinkedIn, co-founder Aneisha Soobroyen wrote: "While we were proud to be one of the first pet food brands to certify in 2019, the certification no longer holds the weight it once did. It has started to feel like little more than a marketing badge and greenwashing rather than a true mark of ethical business." Just Drinks asked B Lab for its position on those comments. In the statement announcing the new standards, Clay Brown, co-lead executive of B Lab Global, called the new standards 'a complete reimagining of business impact to respond to the challenges of our time'. Previously, companies seeking certification underwent an assessment process involving a 'B Impact' assessment form, which evaluated their environmental, worker, material, community, and governance practices. To achieve certification, a company needed to score 80 or above out of 200. To maintain certification, B Lab mandates that companies re-certify every three years by completing a 'B Impact Assessment' and submitting documentation for evaluation. The updated framework introduces a shift from scoring to meeting baseline performance requirements across seven key 'impact topics': purpose and stakeholder governance; climate action; human rights; fair work; environmental stewardship and circularity; justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion; and government affairs and collective action. Judy Rodrigues, B Lab Global's director of standards, explained the update follows a four-year process involving two rounds of public consultation and the review of 26,000 feedback submissions from companies, the general public, and subject-matter experts. She added: 'We are confident that the new standards are clear, ambitious, and truly capable of raising the bar for businesses worldwide.' The seventh version of the standards also introduces differentiation based on company size. Larger companies – defined as having between 250 and 999 employees or $75m to $350m in annual revenue – face more rigorous requirements. Companies with 1,000 to 9,999 employees, or $350m to $1.5bn in annual revenue, are subject to even stricter criteria. According to a statement on B Lab's website, larger companies 'generally have to answer more (and more difficult) questions and meet higher requirements for verification, transparency, and additional factors in order to certify'. On LinkedIn, Emma Aberg of UK-based consultancy Greenheart, backed the update, saying: 'This is really great news in my opinion as it keeps B Corps where they should be; a true force for good in the world and the business leaders shaping our path towards a sustainable and regenerative future.' South African wine group Journey's End has recently signed up to the scheme. The company welcomed the new B Corp standards. 'As South Africa's first B Corp certified winery, we're proud to set the standard for our industry – this evolution of the B Corp framework affirms our conviction that excellence and ethics must go hand in hand,' Stephanie von Oppell, the global head of marketing at Journey's End, said. "B Lab sets out new B Corp standards " was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
