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.

At Absolut, we’re continually looking at ways to reduce our impact on the planet. We’re a spirits brand, but we’re also a social brand.

The fact is that being more conscious of our choices and living more sustainably is something we all must do. It impacts everyone and every aspect of our lives. Thankfully, more and more people are becoming eco-savvy, making greener choices that safeguard our planet and future generations. After all, we’re all in this together.  

From choosing products with more sustainable packaging to products with ethical sourcing, we can drive change with every purchase we make. Think of it this way – every time you make a more conscious choice, you’re rebelling against the status quo, championing a new world order and daring to envision a better future where our planet thrives, not just survives. And that’s a battle worth fighting, right? 

Reimagining how we produce and consume 

So, maybe you’ve heard the term “circular economy”. Or maybe not. Let us set the stage; imagine a system where everything runs in a self-sustaining, closed loop. Unlike the old way of doing things, where stuff just goes every which way, a circular economy keeps things neat, efficient, and reusable. Sounds great, huh? Well, it’s the future, and it’s happening now. 

A circular economy is about rethinking how we produce and consume. It’s a system where we share, lease, reuse, repair, refurbish, and recycle materials and products for as long as possible. This way, we can extend the lifecycle of products.  

At Absolut, having a circular production process for our vodka is extremely important. We’re genuinely interested in and passionate about finding innovative ways to reuse, reduce, rethink, and recycle at every step to minimize our environmental footprint. Our mission is to close as many loops as we can. Because why settle for “good enough” when you can push boundaries and create real, lasting change? 

The (re)evolution of our bottle 

From the beginning, Absolut has always believed in doing things differently, and we continue to do so today. It’s in our spirit. Take our glass bottle, for example. Compared to other bottles on the market at the time in the late 70s and early 80s, our apothecary-inspired glass bottle was a total game changer and stood out for all the right reasons. 

Today, our beloved, iconic glass bottle is lighter. In 2015, we reduced the weight by 10 per cent while retaining the bottle’s iconic shape and strength. By making our bottle lighter, we can transport more per container, cutting down CO2 emissions from both production and transportation. Fewer pallets are needed too. In other words, one positive change often has a ripple effect on other areas.  

Yes, our bottles are clear. But they’re also pretty green. Today, every Absolut Vodka bottle is made with more than 53% recycled glass. 

One Source 

As we share in Our One Source story, crafting Absolut Vodka is a holistic journey born from our Swedish tradition in vodka-making commitment to our source and community. Having One Source and One Community means we respectfully control the entire process, tracing the very product that is in your hand all the way back to our farmers. 

All the ingredients for Absolut Vodka are procured from Southern Sweden where our factory is also based. Every drop of water and every seed of wheat comes from a single water source and community. This consistent approach guarantees that, no matter where you are in the world, Absolut Vodka will always uphold the same high standard of quality.

During our raw spirit distillation process, we produce a by-product known as stillage (or “drank” in Swedish). This by-product is high in protein, and we use it to feed thousands of pigs and cows in our nearby vicinity every day that our distillery is in operation. What’s more, today, we have CO₂, neutral distillation, which means that carbon emissions offset by planting trees that absorb CO₂, over their lifetime. This is a fact we are very proud of.  

Great ideas shouldn’t just stay on paper 

In 2023, we became the first global spirits brand to sell single-mold paper-based bottles commercially in the UK. That’s right – a paper-based bottle. 

Lightweight yet sturdy, our paper-based bottle is made from 57% paper with a recyclable plastic lining. And its functionality is every bit as good as it looks. Our carbon footprint is a key focus for us. The Absolut distillery in Åhus, in southern Sweden, has been net carbon neutral since 2013, and the launch of our paper –based bottle represents an important milestone for us in creating a carbon neutral product by 2030. And that’s something we all want to see.  

Paper-based bottles not only help us reduce our carbon footprint but also embody a bold statement of commitment to the planet. It’s about taking a stand, defying expectations, and proving that innovation and determination can make a difference to the world. And when we band together, small acts can add up to monumental change. 

Good times just got better. 

Looking for more inspiration? Discover more great articles on the Absolut blog! 

Ok, so given that you’re an avid reader of this blog you know about the incentivised system we have with our wheat farmers (cheat: read previous sustaiability post). But maybe you’re hungry for more details? Let’s take a dive into this buffet of tools.

Basically, what the Absolut Wheat Sustainability Programme addresses, are three things; climate, biodiversity and soil health. How? By a number of activities that implemented in a farm, contributes to improve at least one of those three areas.

For instance, using renewable fuels in tractors reduces CO2 emissions from your farm which is good for the climate and therefor awards you points. Or growing flowers creates wintering opportunities for insects, and beetles, which is great for the biodiversity and therefor awards you points. Or using organic fertilizers instead of mineral ones creates better soil health and therefor awards you points. Easy.

So every supplier has to reach at least 12 points but it’s up to them which activities on the menu to implement on their farm – no one-fits-all solutions in this programme.

To learn more about the Absolut Wheat Sustainability, click here.

Ok, so given that you’re an avid reader of this blog you know about the incentivised system we have with our wheat farmers (cheat: read previous sustaiability post). But maybe you’re hungry for more details? Let’s take a dive into this buffet of tools.

Basically, what the Absolut Wheat Sustainability Programme addresses, are three things; climate, biodiversity and soil health. How? By a number of activities that implemented in a farm, contributes to improve at least one of those three areas.

For instance, using renewable fuels in tractors reduces CO2 emissions from your farm which is good for the climate and therefor awards you points. Or growing flowers creates wintering opportunities for insects, and beetles, which is great for the biodiversity and therefor awards you points. Or using organic fertilizers instead of mineral ones creates better soil health and therefor awards you points. Easy.

So every supplier has to reach at least 12 points but it’s up to them which activities on the menu to implement on their farm – no one-fits-all solutions in this programme.

To learn more about the Absolut Wheat Sustainability, click here.

So, what are some of the sustainability efforts that we are dedicated to? We’ve decided to reach out to Anna Schreil, the VP of Operations, to delve into life in Åhus, the integral role of the local community, and the remarkable sustainability initiatives driving our passion at Absolut.

The heart of the production beats within the village of Åhus, where most employees reside. With a steady influx of visitors and tourists, being a responsible neighbor and citizen is essential. Absolut strives to avoid causing pollution, odors, or noise, focusing on harmonious coexistence with the local community.

Anna Schriels talks to us about how the “One source of one community” philosophy extends to creating employment opportunities and that Absolut plays a pivotal role as an employer and collaborates with local suppliers, thus generating job prospects in the region and how Absolut Home, a vibrant hub of experiences, welcomes guests to explore the brand’s world through its restaurants, bars, events, and activities.

The commitment to sustainability can also be seen in our supply chain. The majority of our suppliers are based in the region or in southern Sweden, providing essential materials such as glass bottles, caps, shipping boxes, and wheat. This proximity facilitates strong relationships, shared priorities, and a focus on delivering high-quality products.

It’s evident that sustainability is a natural part of our production in Åhus and that it’s something employees are passionate about, so we asked our VP of operations, Anna Schreil to list the five most notable sustainability efforts that she is extra proud of.

1. Energy efficiency: The Distillery in Nöbbelöv, close to Åhus, where the spirit is produced, is one of the world’s most energy-efficient distilleries in the world. We offset the small number of emissions that remain through tree planting in Mexico handled by Plan Vivo, and that way, our distillery has been net carbon neutral since 2013. In fact, one of our goals for 2025 is for our production to be completely fossil-free.
2. Zero waste: An example is stillage. When you produce spirit, there is a by-product from the distillation called stillage, and much more than usual if you’re producing vodka. This by-product is fed to pigs and cows every day, as it is a nutritious formula.
3. Waste-spirit-distillation: When you clean the equipment on our bottling lines, you get a mix of water and spirits. For instance, when you clean the equipment between the bottling of two different flavors. This blend of water and spirits actually holds some energy, so we ship it back to the distillery and use it as fuel.
4. Recycling: We don’t send anything to landfill, not 1 kilo. Everything is sorted and recycled or reused.
5. Climate-smart transportation: We have a climate-smart transport solution between our facilities in the form of electric hybrid trucks from the distillery to the bottling in Åhus and the filled bottles from bottling to the warehouse in the local harbor.

Want to know more about our sustainability initiatives? Head over to our sustainability page, where we dive in to the related topics.