Ahascragh Distillery have been announced as the winners of the Greener Planet award at The Foodies 2024. The European awards celebrate small and medium sized food and drink enterprises (SMEs ) that go the extra mile to incorporate sustainability into their business.
The Greener Planet category recognises businesses for their dedication to reducing environmental impact through innovation, sustainable practices, or charitable commitments. Ahascragh Distillery was awarded for its approach to sustainable distilling which involved using renewable energy, eco-conscious sourcing and practices that have reduced its carbon footprint.
Founders of Ahascragh Distillery Gareth and Michelle McAllister were awarded in Brussels on December 3. Gareth McAllister said, " This award is a tremendous honour for Michelle and I, and the incredible Ahascragh Distillery team. Recognition by EU policymakers with the Greener Planet Award highlights the importance of de-carbonising the production of Irish spirits."
He added, "Key issues raised included the need for harmonised regulations across the European market to ensure fairness and efficiency, Ireland’s soaring electricity costs - the highest in the EU - and the impact of upcoming health warning labels applied exclusively to Irish alcohol products. These challenges underscore the need to support SMEs in maintaining both their sustainability efforts and their competitiveness in a demanding market.”
The distillery maintains zero energy emissions through use of thermal storage combined with optimal heat recovery, recycling energy and saving 1,690 tonnes of CO2 per year. Ahascragh Distillery aims to further enhance the sustainability of its packaging over the coming years.
