Objective

To make its production carbon-neutral by 2026.

Description

Koskenkorva distillery is located in the village of Koskenkorva, Finland. The grain spirit produced there is made from pure Finnish barley. The distillery uses about 210 million kilos of Finnish barley a year to produce grain spirit.

In addition to grain spirit, the Koskenkorva plant produces several byproducts, such as starch and raw material for animal feed. The carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation process is also collected and used (for example, in greenhouse cultivation). Barley starch is used in the paper and board industries, as well as the food industry and breweries. A versatile product range enables the Koskenkorva plant’s unique material efficiency.

The barley husk that would otherwise not be used in the Koskenkorva plant’s production is incinerated in the plant’s own bioenergy power plant, which supplies steam energy for the distillery. The 10-megawatt bioenergy power plant has been operating at full capacity since January 2015, and it uses barley husk as its primary fuel. Barley husk is peeled in Koskenkorva’s grain spirit and starch production throughout the year. In terms of technology and fuel mix, the Koskenkorva bioenergy power plant is the first of its kind in Finland.

Partners

Anora (Alita before September 2021 when Altia and Arcus merged to become Anora)

Results

Thanks to the bioenergy power plant and renewable fuel, the Koskenkorva plant has been able to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by about 58% since 2014. The plant’s steam generation fuel self-sufficiency is about 60%. To make the circular economy circle complete, ashes from the bioenergy power plant are used as fertiliser on the fields.

The waste recycling and recovery rate of the distillery in 2022 was 100%.

Award of the The Green Company of the Year 2018 for the circular economy at the Koskenkorva distillery. We are also included on the Finnish future fund Sitra's list of the most interesting companies in circular economy. 

The distillery is almost 50% selfsufficient with steam production.

The distillery uses 100% of the grain. 

Website

https://anora.com/en/sustainability/koskenkorva-distillery-is-a-forerunner-in-the-circular-economy

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