Absolut’s eco-friendly and cow-approved, no-waste policy   

Did you know our second most popular product from the Absolut distillery in Åhus has little to do with vodka? That’s right – our second most popular product is something called “stillage”, which is, in fact, a byproduct of our vodka production.  

And something else you probably didn’t know is that it’s not just people who enjoy our products coming out of the Absolut distillery. It’s true! 

Stillage: Absolut Vodka’s Boost for Happy Farms and a Greener Planet 

Every day, alongside vodka-loving humans, around 250,000 pigs and cows in southern Sweden feast on stillage, the main by-product of our vodka production. 

This protein-rich leftover from the distillation process has been a favorite among farmers and their animals since the 1960s. The reason this arrangement has been able to continue for as long as it has because stillage serves as an excellent alternative to, say, soybeans, allowing farmers to avoid the costs and environmental impact of importing other protein-rich feed for their livestock. In other words, purchasing stillage at a favorable price from Absolut has both economic and environmental advantages. It’s win-win all around. 

“In many other distilleries, stillage is considered waste. But for us and the farmers in our region, it has always been a very important product. In fact, in my eyes, the distillery is a local feed factory with a great by-product called Absolut Vodka”, says Karin Skoog, Manager Planning Production Distillery at Absolut. “After all, we produce over three times more stillage than vodka.” 

It is all about seeing the bigger picture. We cannot talk about regenerative agriculture one minute, and then actively take away one of the things that make it work the next.” 

Feeding Farms and Reducing Transport Emissions 

Feeding livestock with stillage has been a tradition in the area, dating back to when farmers distilled spirits at home. But now, thanks to Absolut’s massive production, between 8,000 and 8,500 tons of this protein-rich feed are delivered weekly to around 250 farmers, keeping their pigs and cows well-fed. That’s about 35 truckloads a day! 

To cut down on the environmental impact, Absolut teamed up with a local firm to set up an on-site HVO (renewable diesel) gas station for the trucks.  

While taking away all the water to reduce transportation might sound tempting (since water makes up 90% of its weight), it’s not the best option. Drying is energy-intensive and leads to high emissions, one of the main reasons for the distillery’s high emissions in FY22. Plus, delivering dry stillage would affect the farms’ water supplies. 

Cheers to no waste!
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But hey, since you’re reading this, we’re guessing you’re human and here to explore our vodka products, not our stillage, right? Explore our Absolut Vodka products.