In an effort to help return the oceans to the way they should be, Parley and Talisker Single Malt Whisky are joining forces for a three year partnership and launching “Rewild Our Seas.” The new program looks to help restore and protect underwater forests along coastlines worldwide. By 2023, they plan on supporting the preservation and protection of 100 million square meters of marine ecosystems.
To carry out the mission, Talisker and Parley will form alliances with local non-profit organizations around the world, providing grants to further support existing efforts in ocean research and protection, including at the home of Talisker Whisky in Scotland.
The partnership will conduct innovative research through expeditions to better understand marine ecosystems and solutions to protect them from threats such as climate change. It will also introduce commercial initiatives, including retail promotions, designed to help generate additional funding and support for projects that protect the oceans.
As part of the partnership, Talisker and Parley will launch a public fundraising campaign to celebrate the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge – a 3000-mile rowing race across the Atlantic. As part of the effort, Parley and Talisker will invite adventurers everywhere to join in and take on personal challenges linked to the ocean with the goal of raising funds for Parley initiatives.
The partnership supports Parley’s mission to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of the oceans and work to restore, preserve and protect them for future generations. Kelp plays a critical role in ocean health by sequestering carbon dioxide, regulating pH, harboring microorganisms, and providing habitat and nourishment for marine life and keystone species. With an initial focus on projects protecting kelp forests along the coasts of Scotland, the home of Talisker, the partners will support NGOs working alongside local communities for the preservation of protected areas, reserves and sanctuaries.
The first distillery on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, Talisker whisky is very much a product of its rugged coastal home. For nearly 200 years, the ocean that surrounds it has created and shaped the signature maritime and briny notes you can taste in its Whisky today. This is the first time Talisker has partnered with an environmental organization on a global scale. It builds on the wider initiatives already undertaken by Talisker to improve their environmental performance as part of Diageo’s wider sustainability program. To date and as recently reported in their Annual Report, Diageo has achieved a 50% reduction in carbon emissions and a 46% water efficiency improvement in 2020.
“Witnessing the rapid decline of marine wildlife and the destabilization of the environment that provides the chemistry which allows us humans to exist leads to a simple conclusion: we will not be able to live on a planet with a dead sea and collaborating with nature is the only way for us humans to survive,” said Cyrill Gutsch, founder and CEO of Parley. “Therefore, we are excited to collaborate with Talisker, a true ocean brand. Together we will explore, research and protect underwater forests which give shelter to sea life, prevent erosion of coastlines and help us to fight climate change by capturing carbon emissions. For the Oceans, Climate and Life.”
Pedro Mendonca, Diageo Global Reserve Director, added, “Our connection with the ocean goes back hundreds of years and started when our founders, the MacAskill brothers, stepped onto the shores of Skye to set up our Talisker distiller. Every single day, our whisky is influenced by the spirit and energy of the vast ocean that surrounds us. It forms an important part of who we are, and so naturally we feel it is our responsibility to help protect one of the most important ecosystems of our planet. In our partnership with Parley we are unified in our shared love for the oceans and our joint commitment to support their preservation for future generations. We both believe that the power for change lies in the hands of brands and consumers and given there is a choice – we want to be able to instill action and drive change together.”