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Distilleries Designed the Green Way

Meet some distillers who are placing environmentally sound site design and sustainable certifications at the forefront of their missions.

Hollie Stephens Dec 21, 2023 - 9 min read

Distilleries Designed the Green Way Primary Image

Photo: Courtesy Maker's Mark

As the climate emergency intensifies, and awareness grows of its implications, many distillers are becoming more mindful of their resource consumption—and some are making sustainability pledges aimed at better environmental stewardship.

In some cases, distilleries are taking steps to reimagine their processes and make their entire operations more sustainable from the ground up. This sometimes involves obtaining green-building certifications, such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) ratings or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star. Other types of certifications that distilleries can pursue include organic certification and verification of net zero carbon emissions.

Investment and Patience at Maker’s Mark

LEED is the world's most widely used green-building rating system, and its certification is a symbol of achievement in sustainability, providing a framework for high efficiency and cost savings. One distillery that’s been through the LEED certification process is Maker’s Mark in Loretto, Kentucky. In 2019, the brand’s cellar obtained LEED certification. The cellar has a vegetative roof, with native plants that provide a wildlife habitat and protection from day-to-night temperature fluctuations, naturally cooling the cellar and reducing energy usage.

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Hollie Stephens is an award-winning journalist based in New Mexico and originally from the United Kingdom. Her work has been published in Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine®, Brewer and Distiller International Magazine, Wine Enthusiast, and many other publications.

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