One UK distillery had the desire to reduce its carbon footprint, as part of its commitment to support local communities and help improve the environment.

A Yorkshire-based gin and whisky distillery, Cooper King Distillery, has joined forces with Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT), a small charity working to conserve and restore native habitats and wildlife, to plant more than 400 new trees in the area over the next year. The announcement was made public on the International Day of Forests, which took place on 21 March. 

Co-founder of Cooper King Distillery, Abbie Neilson, says, “We are making a real effort to operate in the most sustainable way possible, therefore we’re delighted to be partnering with Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust on our tree-planting project. We have always had a passion for the environment and sustainable living, and take great pleasure in supporting YDMT and the local community.”

The partnership between Cooper King Distillery and Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust in practice will result in one square metre of trees being planted in their local region for every bottle of gin sold.

This is not the first time the company proves to be environmentally responsible. Partnering with green energy specialists, Ecotricity, Cooper King is one of only three of distilleries in the UK to run on 100% green energy. 

Leah Galloway, fundraiser at Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, says, “We are delighted to partner with Cooper King Distillery on this wonderful initiative. It’s great to see a local business actively working to ensure that they have a positive impact in the local community. We’re really looking forward to working together and seeing new trees planted in the Yorkshire Dales.”

Cooper King Distillery’s ambition could serve as an inspiration for bigger brands to create a community within the industry that is a part of the solution for the constantly raising environmental issues.

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