Chivas Brothers Invests in Long Term River Conservation
Pernod Ricard’s Scotch whisky business, Chivas Brothers, announced a new, long-term investment program starting this year. The project looks to preserve, protect, and improve the health of rivers and waterways in North-East Scotland.
According to research data, three-quarters of Scotland’s rivers are in poor ecological health. By the end of the century, they will be prone to three times as many droughts and 40% more flooding. This threatens the biodiversity of life within them.
In reaction to this, Chivas Brothers believes that waterways are a vital source of life for wildlife. The company has confirmed its commitment to water stewardship with this investment. The distillery is aware that rivers are key components of the whisky making process.
In addition, a part of their vision is ensuring that Scotch whisky will be sustainable as it relies on healthy rivers and causeways to produce its products.
Chivas Brothers Invests in Long Term Water Conservation
As part of the partnership, called ‘The River Within,’ the partners will work to increase biodiversity and limit temperature increases caused by climate change. The group aims to augment efforts to strengthen rivers’ resilience over the long term. The collaboration is formed among Chivas Brothers and
- The Deveron, Bogie, and Isla Rivers Charitable Trust,
- Findhorn,
- Nairn and Lossie Rivers Trust, and
- The Spey Catchment Initiative.
Julie Gallacher, Head of Sustainability & Responsibility at Chivas Brothers, said, “Scotland’s waterways are the lifeblood of whisky production. So while we use this precious resource responsibly, returning 96% of what we use to its source, we like to think there’s a ‘river within’ each bottle. Many of our distilleries are built on the banks of treasured Scottish rivers. It’s from these waters that our renowned whiskies are endowed with their unique spirit and essence.”
Richard Miller, Director at The Deveron, Bogie, and Isla Rivers Charitable Trust, said, “Many of the species Scotland is known for and their habitats are currently facing unprecedented challenges. One of these is the Atlantic Salmon which was recently reclassified by the IUCN from ‘least concern’ to ‘endangered’ in Great Britain.
”The River Within’ program will provide essential resources to ensure Deveron fish stocks have free access to cold, clean, water. This will be achieved by removing obstacles to fish passage and creating 3D buffer strips along field margins…. We very much look forward to working with Chivas Brothers on this new and exciting project.”