Anora Group’s Koskenkorva distillery, located in the village of Koskenkorva in Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland, has won the Environmental award in the 2024 Just Drinks Excellence Awards.
The Just Drinks Excellence Awards celebrate the greatest achievements and innovations in the beverages industry. Powered by the business intelligence of GlobalData, the program provides a platform to recognize the people and companies that are driving change in the industry.
The distillery has been recognized for its exceptional commitment to environmental sustainability, particularly for its circular economy actions that have led to a 100% recycling and recovery rate in 2023, its comprehensive waste management strategy, and its focus on maximizing the use of all raw materials that have significantly contributed to its carbon reduction initiatives.
Achieving sustainability through circular economy
Anora Group’s Koskenkorva distillery has emerged as a frontrunner in the company’s push towards sustainability. With a company-wide recycling rate of 92.4% in 2023, Anora has surpassed its goal well ahead of its 2030 target, demonstrating its commitment to circular economy principles. The distillery’s operations are a testament to this ethos, achieving a 100% recycling and recovery rate and a 99.2% recycling rate, which includes the conversion of waste into energy for district heating.
This has not only reduced landfill waste to 11.13 tons, but also contributed to the distillery’s 44% self-sufficiency in steam production.
Innovating for a sustainable distillation process
The Koskenkorva distillery is renowned for its advanced distillation process. Operating 350 days a year, the facility employs continuous distillation across nine columns, maximizing material efficiency by using 100% of the barley grain. This process, which boasts a 99% distillation efficiency, reduces water consumption, chemical use, and energy expenditure, resulting in a pure, unfiltered spirit and a 34% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the previous year due to the change of electricity supply at the distillery to fossil-free power.
Koskenkorva’s dedication to sustainability extends beyond distillation. The company aims to become the most sustainable vodka in the world by reducing the carbon footprint of its packaging. Moreover, the distillery itself is targeting carbon neutrality by 2026. It has taken bold steps to reduce its carbon footprint. It has implemented a process water circulation heat pump, which has the potential to reduce fuel consumption and cut down on 10% of the primary steam production required.
Regenerative agriculture: Cultivating change
Koskenkorva is at the forefront of advocating for regenerative agriculture, a practice that not only captures CO2 from the atmosphere, but also enhances soil health, biodiversity, and crop resilience. This approach is integral to the brand’s vision, as evidenced by its flagship product, Koskenkorva Vodka Climate Action.
Koskenkorva is part of these efforts to promote a shift in farming methods.
Inspiring a greener beverage industry
With its comprehensive approach to resource management, innovative production techniques, and pioneering agricultural practices, Koskenkorva is producing a sustainable product as well as driving the industry towards a greener future. As the distillery continues to pursue ambitious environmental goals, it inspires others in the sector to embrace the journey towards sustainability.
“Very happy that our hard efforts to decrease emissions at Koskenkorva distillery are being recognized. Our ambition to be the most sustainable vodka is well on its way!” – Suvi Reinikkala, Marketing Director, Anora Group.
Company Profile
Anora is a leading wine and spirits brand house in the Nordic region and a global industry forerunner in sustainability. They have a broad portfolio of iconic brands, including Koskenkorva, Linie, Skagerrak, Chill Out, Ruby Zin, Wongraven, O.P. Anderson and Falling Feather. Their key brands are exported to over 30 markets globally.
Together with their Anora brings the world of drinks to the Nordics. Their strong partner portfolio includes noted wines, such as Masi, Laroche, Penfolds and Louis Roederer, as well as well-known spirits brands, like Jack Daniels, Fireball, Fernet Branca, Jose Cuervo, and Underberg. Anora’s business operations also include world-class industrial operations in distillation, bottling and logistics services as well as the production of technical ethanol products, neutral potable ethanol, feed components and barley starch.
Contact Details
Inka Vettenranta
E-mail: inka.vettenranta@anora.com
Phone: +358 50 339 4980
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