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Four Pillars Commitment to Sustainability: presenting innovation and passion to Sustainable Practices in our Distillery and Hospitality Venue in Healesville, Victoria

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Plenary 2
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
9:40 AM - 10:00 AM

Speaker

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Ms Michelle Hall
Operations Director
Four Pillars Distillery

Four Pillars Commitment to Sustainability: presenting innovation and passion to Sustainable Practices in our Distillery and Hospitality Venue in Healesville, Victoria

Abstract

Our commitment to sustainability at Four Pillars is not only a strategic investment in our business but also a core value that guides our operations. It's an integral part of our company-wide goals aimed at securing a sustainable future and enhancing operational efficiency. By investing in sustainability now, we anticipate significant future dividends through reduced energy consumption, and substantial savings in waste management. As an industry traditionally reliant on extensive energy and water we are determined to lead in transforming these practices for the better.

In our production processes, highlights of innovative sustainability practices we have implemented include:

Installing a partial passive cooling system with a large copper "veil" around our distillery, that acts as a passive radiator to knock out the heat of our condenser water, saving 60,000 to 80,000 litres of fresh water daily.
One still operates separately, using collected hot water to shorten heat-up times for subsequent next day distillations, resulting in significant daily energy savings.
Transitioning from "single shot" to "double shot" distillation, maintaining gin quality while potentially halving energy input per bottle.
Over the next 18 months, we'll reduce bottle weight by 10-15%, increase recycled content, and redesign closures to cut carbon emissions from packaging.
Our "Made from Gin" initiative effectively utilizes waste materials from distillation.
In our hospitality venue, we reclaim heat from stills to warm the venue in winter. All gins are served on tap to minimize glass waste, and also allowing us to refill guest bottles directly and further reduce environmental impact.

Biography

Michelle Hall, the Operations Director at Four Pillars Distillery since its inception in 2013, embodies the core values of sustainability woven into the distillery's DNA. Under her leadership, Four Pillars achieved Carbon Neutral certification for all gin produced at Healesville. Her commitment is further underscored by the successful implementation of the Four Pillars Sustainability Plan, which sets a bold target of reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 50% from baseline levels by 2030. Michelle's efforts have garnered prestigious accolades, including the IWSC 2022 Inaugural Green Spirit Trophy for exemplary sustainability practices in distilling and the esteemed title of Sustainability Officer of the Year at the 2024 World Gin Awards.
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