Since launching The Gin Cooperative in 2017, we’ve watched our members and the wider gin and spirits industry look at ways of improving their sustainability across their production and business activities. Packaging, transport logistics, energy consumption, working smarter and looking at the best ways of making their businesses greener. We too want to take responsibility for The Gin Cooperative’s carbon footprint.
As a business that plays an active role in the Scottish Gin industry, gin community and spirits supply chain, we feel we have a responsibility to look at ways of reducing our impact on the environment. Not only do we see our Scottish Gin members look to greener solutions, we also see more and more of Scotland’s food producers and other businesses take on the challenge of becoming more responsible for the impact their business has on the environment.
The Gin Cooperative works exclusively with Flexi-Hex who provide an entirely eco-friendly packaging solution for spirits. (Pic: The Gin Cooperative)
More of Scotland’s gin and spirit producers and brands are looking at how they can increase their sustainability and reduce their carbon footprint. (Pic: The Gin Cooperative)
From the outset, we launched our shop with entirely recyclable packaging, being amongst the earliest adopters of Flexi-Hex in the independent drinks retail space, and reducing the amount of paper used across the business with a ‘digital where possible’ policy. We actively seek out supply chain partners who have green policies and credentials. We recycle all glass and excess cardboard produced by the shop along with installing LED lights and other energy saving infrastructure in our licensed premises.
We’re delighted to announce that we’re furthering our commitment to reducing waste through our collaboration with Treepoints. Treepoints focuses on three key green areas supporting the environment: plastic recycling, tree planting and management, and global sustainable projects. With the support of Treepoints, over the course of each year, The Gin Cooperative will initially offset 12 tonnes of carbon per year, plant 720 trees and recycle 720 plastic bottles.
Natalie Reid, co-founder of The Gin Cooperative said, “We’re excited to be taking the next step on our journey as a business with the support of Treepoints. The climate crisis is a real threat to the planet and as the earth gets warmer, we will continue to see and feel the impact including more unpredictable weather patterns and adverse weather, which impacts our food and drink producers. Working with Treepoints is just one of the many ways we’re looking to make The Gin Cooperative a greener part of the Scottish Gin industry.”
Treepoints partner with The Eden Reforestation Project, who are responsible for tree planting schemes which has seen 830 million trees planted to date at 249 project sites across 9 countries with the help of 11,500 plus employees empowered with fair wages. Tree planting helps improve bio-diversity across the world, providing habitats for nature and helping reduce climate change. The tree planting scheme can also help with soil erosion and provides many job opportunities, often in poorer and impoverished countries.
Every month, Treepoints invests in projects that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide sustainable development and economic opportunities for communities around the world. All projects are verified by internationally recognised organisations, including the UN to ensure quality and integrity.
Working with Plastic Bank, Treepoints are helping establish ethical plastic collection branches across the world. Plastic is one of the biggest challenges marine life now faces. Current forecasting predicts there will be more plastic in the sea than fish by 2050. Plastic Bank collectors gather plastic waste directly from local beaches, riverbanks, neighbourhoods and even households – so that we can stop ocean plastic at the source. Collected plastic can be brought to the nearest plastic bank for recycling. In return, collectors can use their Plastic Bank benefits on groceries, cooking fuel, school tuition, health insurance, digital connectivity and clean drinking water.
With the support of Treepoints, The Gin Cooperative will plant 720 trees and recycle 720 plastic bottles per year. (Pic: The Gin Cooperative)
Treepoints works with The Eden Reforestation Project and Plastic Bank through a subscription based model for individuals and businesses. (Pic: The Eden Reforestation Project)
COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma said “We are at a critical point for our planet, and to safeguard its future we must act now to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C. To do this, we need action from all of society including those small businesses that play such a vital role in our daily lives. The world is moving to a greener, brighter future, so please: do not get left behind.”
Along with Treepoints, we also recently signed up to the SME Climate Hub Commitment to reduce our waste as part of the wider-reaching United Nations’ Race to Zero campaign. Although we’re a small family business, we believe that everyone has a role to play in whatever way they can to help with the climate crisis. The campaign encourages businesses to reduce their carbon emissions in half by 2030, and achieve net zero by 2050. As we continue to look at ways of reducing waste and improving our carbon footprint, we’re proud to be playing our role in working towards a greener, net zero economy and will continue to look at the best ways we can further reduce waste across our business.
The UK’s Net Zero Business Champion Andrew Griffith said “The UK business community has a unique opportunity to come together to tackle climate change. We all need to play our part, and as small businesses make up the majority of the UK’s business community it is critical that they get involved.”
You can learn more about Treepoints here.
You can learn more about the The Eden Reforestation Project here.
You can learn more about Plastic Bank here.
You can learn more about the SME Climate Hub here.
You can learn more about the many great Scottish Gins by visiting the links below.
