We recycle used materials, such as Whisky staves.
Read more about sustainability and responsibility.
Our SUSTAINABILITY policy:
Aurora Spirit operates by modern sustainable principles. We live in a special part of the world, which is highly affected by global environmental changes. Consequently, we have the greatest respect for wildlife and nature. We think of green innovation, regional development and sustainability as bearing principles on all aspects of our business.
In all our investments, in building materials and production equipment, we have made decisions based on ecological and sustainable principles. Our still is one of the most energy-friendly in the world and our Distillery is built in cross laminated timber, which is an eco-friendly building technique.
Our policy:
- Focus on sustainable supply chains. This means ensuring the carbon footprint is as low as possible and that our suppliers and customers are focused on sustainability (glass recycling, low-NOx burners, packaging reduction, etc.)
- Protect the water source. Our still recycles the water used for heating and cooling as part of the cleaning programme. At the factory, we always try not to use water excessively.
- Energy efficient packaging and distribution. Our production is far from the central alcohol warehouses in Norway. The distribution system for alcohol in Norway is built in such a manner that all of our products for the general consumer market must be shipped all the way to the Oslo area, and from there be redistributed to this long country. This is, in our opinion, a non-sustainable way of operating. Consequently, we are putting pressure on the subject via our political channels to the government in Norway.
- Recycle all waste materials. We cooperate with our local waste disposal company. We recycle used whisky staves and other wood materials such as furniture, art and souvenirs at our visitors’ centre. We give the offcuts from the wooden staves to Harry – the local salmon smoker, for use in his production of ‘whisky cask smoked salmon’. We have recycled some of the waste materials from the building construction as tables.
- Leave as small a footprint on the local environment as possible. All our staff are trained in how to be careful with regards to how we operate in the fragile Arctic realms. The crafts we use and sell and the food we serve are all sourced locally. We want to support our local community as much as possible, by using local craftsmanship, purchasing locally and encouraging visitors to buy locally.
Our RESPONSIBILITY policy:
Drinking alcohol has been part of the Arctic way of life for centuries. It is undeniably a part of our heritage. That being said, we acknowledge the problems associated with alcohol abuse. We are fully aware that some people drink too much, and can cause harm to themselves, others, and the local community. The Norwegian government’s alcohol policy has a proven effect in our country and we abide by the guidelines and laws given to our industry.
We advise consumers to take into account some basic tips on responsible drinking in the Arctic:
- Avoid drinking alone, be social and look after each other.
- Alternate alcohol with soft drinks. Stay hydrated.
- Know (and honour) your limits for alcohol tolerance.
- Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Have a bite to eat before consuming alcohol.
- The distances in the Arctic are vast. Make sure you have a plan for getting home.
- It’s cold up here. Are you dressed for waiting in the taxi queue for an hour?
Want to know more? Here are some useful links:
http://www.wikihow.com/Drink-Responsibly
http://www.responsibledrinking.eu/
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/
Savour Bivrost responsibly!!!
Bottles and PET:
The Bivrost glass bottles are made, partly, from recycled glass, from 20% to 50%, depending on the production batch. Moreover, the furnaces are heated with Oxyfuel, which generates a lot less emission fumes (70%) than regular natural gas. This is due to the fact that the production site is mostly urban and emission levels must be very low. The heat from the furnace is also recycled in the heating system of thousands of homes around the factory.
The factory (Vetrobalsamo) has been selected by the European Union for the H2GLASS-Horizon22 project, aimed at experimenting with green hydrogen in order to replace fossile fuels for glass production. Our supplier, BLUEGLASS, are very proud that 3 of their major manufacturing partners are involved in this project.
For smaller, light weight bottles we use PET bottles. PET has some outstanding advantages – from preventing food waste to being fully recyclable:
- PET protects beverages and prevents wastage
- PET is safe and non-toxic
- PET saves resources
- PET reduces carbon footprint
- PET is fully recyclable
- Read more about the sustainability features of PET in this article…