Diageo, maker of iconic brands such as Johnnie Walker, Lagavulin, and The Singleton, has announced an investment of up to £5 million over five years to restore 3.000 hectares of degraded peatlands in Scotland. The program, implemented in partnership with Caledonian Climate and Wetlands International, aims to improve water management, increase carbon storage, and strengthen biodiversity in some of the country's most fragile landscapes.
Peatlands, in addition to being essential for producing the distinctive smoky aroma of many Scotch whiskies, are a natural carbon sink and a key resource for water quality and management. However, many of them are currently compromised, contributing to CO₂ emissions and the deterioration of local ecosystems. With this collective action plan, Diageo aims to reverse this trend by protecting the natural resources on which the whisky industry is based.
In parallel with the restoration project, the company is working to optimize the use of peat in its production processes, thanks to innovations in malting facilities that have already resulted in a 5% reduction in peat consumption per tonne of malted barley. Diageo is also exploring solutions for the reuse of peat fumes and the use of substitute materials from other sectors.
“Restoring and protecting Scotland's peatlands is essential to combating climate change, protecting biodiversity and ensuring the sustainability of our most important resource, water,” he said. ewan andrew, President of Global Supply and Chief Sustainability Officer at Diageo. “Through collective action and long-term innovation, we will return more peat to nature than we use, while preserving the authenticity of Scotch whisky.”
The project will be managed by Caledonian Climate and will involve scientific experts, local communities, NGOs, and landowners to ensure best recovery and monitoring practices. Impacts will be measured on carbon, water, and biodiversity, with the technical support of Wetlands International.
“Diageo's collaborative approach is a model for the entire industry,” he commented. Freddie Ingleby, Managing Director of Caledonian Climate. “This investment will accelerate the large-scale restoration of Scotland's peatlands, strengthening climate resilience and nature's resurgence.”
The initiative, which also includes synergies with the Peatland Action Fund of the Scottish Government and projects co-funded by other producers, will include interventions in iconic areas such as the nature reserve Oa on the Isle of Islay, in collaboration with the RSPB.
Secondo Coenraad Krijger, CEO of Wetlands International, “Healthy peatlands are extraordinary climate champions: they capture carbon, manage water, and support life. This collaboration represents a concrete example of how the private sector can contribute to ecosystem restoration, with benefits for people, nature, and the climate.”
