Ardnamurchan becomes first distillery to bottle Scotch whisky in plastic
The Ardnamurchan distillery in Scotland's west Highlands has become the first to sell single malt Scotch in a plastic bottle, launching its flagship AD/ whisky in PET (polyethylene terephthalate) packaging. The move is aimed at boosting the drink's environmental credentials, as PET is far lighter than glass, reducing shipping emissions, and can be recycled repeatedly. It challenges the traditional link between whisky and glass bottles, with the distillery insisting quality and taste will remain unaffected.
The 50cl bottles have launched initially in Norway, sold nationwide in Vinmonopolet stores for around £32, and are bottled at a slightly reduced 46 per cent ABV. Norway was chosen for its strong recycling infrastructure, with rates on plastic bottles reaching up to 97 per cent. Ardnamurchan, which opened in 2014 and runs on 100 per cent biomass fuel, said the packaging fits within Scotch Whisky Association rules requiring bottles to be made of an "inert" material rather than specifically glass.
- Ardnamurchan launches world's first single malt Scotch in a plastic bottle
- PET bottles debut in Norway, priced around £32, aided by high recycling rates
- Distillery says taste is unaffected and packaging fits SWA rules
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Ardnamurchan is a whisky distillery on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands that opened in 2014. Single malt Scotch has traditionally always been sold in glass bottles, partly because of custom and partly because of rules set by the Scotch Whisky Association, the industry body that governs how Scotch can be produced and marketed. Any move away from glass is therefore notable within the industry.
The change is being driven by environmental concerns. Glass bottles are heavy, which adds to the carbon footprint of transporting whisky around the world, whereas plastic alternatives such as PET (a common recyclable plastic used for drinks bottles) are much lighter and can be recycled multiple times. For this to work, though, it relies on strong recycling systems being in place where the product is sold.
The Scotch Whisky Association's rules require bottles to be made of an "inert" material, meaning one that will not react with or affect the whisky, rather than specifying glass outright. This has allowed Ardnamurchan to introduce plastic packaging while still meeting the industry's standards, raising broader questions about how packaging in the drinks trade might evolve elsewhere.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Advocates argue this is a sensible, evidence-led response to a genuine environmental problem: glass is heavy and carbon-intensive to produce and ship, whereas PET is far lighter, cuts transport emissions, and can be recycled repeatedly, especially in a market like Norway with near-total recycling infrastructure. They see it as responsible innovation from a distillery already committed to sustainability through biomass power, arguing that Scotch's reputation should rest on the quality of the liquid rather than an assumption that only glass counts as authentic packaging, and that the move complies fully with Scotch Whisky Association rules on inert materials.
The case against
Sceptics, including many traditionalists and rival producers, worry that departing from glass risks the perceived quality, prestige and heritage that underpin Scotch whisky's global reputation and premium pricing, particularly for a category that trades heavily on craftsmanship and tradition. They may also question whether plastic is genuinely the greener choice given concerns about microplastic contamination, chemical interaction with spirits over time, and the fact that recycling rates elsewhere are far lower than Norway's, meaning the environmental case may not translate to other markets. For them, safeguarding consumer trust and the integrity of the whisky-drinking experience justifies a cautious, glass-first approach even if it comes with a heavier environmental footprint.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “It’s enough to have purists spluttering into their drams – now whisky comes in a PLASTIC bottle!”.