A Scotch whisky and gin distillery based on the remote Hebridean island of Islay has been selected as the only spirits producer to appear in a new global film series presented by B Lab Global and produced by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions highlighting some of the world’s most impactful businesses.
Bruichladdich Distillery, known for its pioneering sustainability efforts and commitment to the local community, is one of a select group of certified B Corporations featured in the series presented by B Lab Global and produced by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions. The series explores how businesses around the world are redefining success to include positive environmental and social impact.
The seven-minute film, which will be available to audiences outside the UK and debuts in May, provides a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into life at Bruichladdich – from its Victorian-era stills to its partnerships with Islay farmers and foragers – and highlights how the distillery is tackling global challenges from its small island base.
Founded in 1881 and revived in 2001, Bruichladdich became the first Scotch whisky distiller in the world to achieve B Corp certification in 2020, joining a global movement of businesses committed to high standards of transparency, accountability, and sustainability.
The distillery was re-certified in 2023 with an improved B Impact Score of 100.7, placing it among the highest-scoring whisky producers globally.
“Our location is both a privilege and a responsibility,” said head distiller Adam Hannett, who was born and raised on Islay, and is the focus of the new film. “We’ve always believed we could make exceptional whisky while protecting our environment, supporting our community, and being open about the challenges that come with that.”
One of the central themes of the film is Bruichladdich’s focus on regenerative agriculture. More than half of the barley used in its whisky production during 2024/25 was grown on Islay – a figure the business is working to increase through long-term partnerships with local farmers.
Among them is Andrew Jones, of Coull Farm, who also appears in the film. The long-standing farming partner grows rye for the distillery, which was first bottled as the limited-edition, The Regeneration Project, with the crop grown using chemical-free methods that improve soil health and carbon retention.
“Farming here isn’t easy – the climate, the terrain, the remoteness – but working with Bruichladdich has opened up new possibilities,” said Jones. “It’s farming that gives back to the land, not just takes from it. Rye restores nutrients in the ground that the bartley removes. Every crop of barley that goes in after has consistently been the best crop of barley on the farm. It’s the essence of regenerative farming.”
The film also features scenes from The Botanist Gin foraging programme, with island-based forager Kate Hannett, Adam’s sister, hand-picking the 22 Islay native botanicals including meadowsweet and wild mint that go into the famous spirit while preserving local biodiversity.
Filming took place across Islay, capturing the island’s rugged coastline, croft land, and the distillery itself – one of the few in Scotland to distill, mature and bottle all its whisky on-site on Islay.
With a workforce of more than 100 people – many of them islanders – Bruichladdich has implemented a Real Living Wage and Living Hours policy, alongside caregiver support and cost-of-living allowances for local employees.
Chief executive Douglas Taylor said the film was an opportunity to show the world that small businesses can have a big impact and drive positive, substantial change.
He said: “This film provides a platform to share our story on the global stage. We don’t do things because they’re the cheapest, easiest, or most efficient way to operate, but because they’re the right way, and produce the best spirits.
“Since reopening our Hebridean site in 2001, we have set out to prove that a whisky business could be about more than what’s in the bottle. Focusing on our raw ingredients, making informed environmental choices, and putting Islay at the heart of our decision making has been imperative over the years, and we remain passionate about connecting land, community and dram today.”
The film series is presented by B Lab Global and produced by BBC StoryWorks, the commercial content division of BBC Studios. It aims to highlight how B Corps around the world are challenging the traditional ‘profit-only’ model by integrating environmental and social purpose into their core operations.
Bruichladdich’s participation comes amid growing recognition for its impact-led approach. Earlier this year, the distillery was named a finalist for B Corp of the Year at the 2025 British Business Awards, praised for its transparency, innovation, and environmental stewardship.
The business has pledged to eliminate fossil fuels from its distillation process by 2030 – 15 years ahead of Scotland’s net zero target. It already uses GreenFlame, a renewable heating oil, and recycles waste heat from production. The company’s Classic Laddie bottle now carries a 65% smaller packaging carbon footprint.
It also champions soil health and sustainable agriculture through a long-term partnership with Genesis, the world’s most comprehensive soil mapping tool Genesis, and The Botanist Foundation, its conservation charity.
Bruichladdich’s inclusion in the B Lab series shines a spotlight on sustainable practice within the traditionally conservative Scotch whisky sector. While many distilleries have made recent commitments to net zero targets, Bruichladdich’s integrated, place-based approach – from farm to bottle – is setting new benchmarks for what sustainability can look like in the spirits industry.
Hannett added: “We’re doing things that nobody in the history of whisky making on Islay has done before – that’s a privilege. Coming from the island and to be involved in its heritage, that’s a really nice moment.
“This film is a moment for the whole island. It showcases Islay’s farming, foraging and distilling traditions, that are all so deeply interconnected. Being able to tell that story on a global stage is incredibly powerful.”
The film will be released online in May as part of a global campaign by B Lab Global, the non-profit behind the B Corp movement. The full series will be available to view online at commongoodcollection.com.
