While we work toward our goal of being water positive by 2030, we’re also identifying innovative ways to use the H in H2O to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In FY24, Bacardi partnered with premium Slovenian glassmaker Hrastnik1860 to trial the production of 150,000 70cl ST-GERMAIN® glass bottles through a hydrogen-fueled furnace—the world’s first commercial production of a glass spirits bottle fueled by hydrogen. By using a fuel composed of at least 60% hydrogen, we were able to reduce the total carbon footprint of production, compared to production powered by traditional fossil fuels.
Bacardi Limited
ESG Report
2024
In FY23, we announced our bold ambition to be water positive by 2030, by giving back more water to the source than we withdraw.
Here are a few key ways we plan to achieve water positivity by 2030:
- Reducing how much water we withdraw from certain water sources by improving our efficiency and implementing water circularity (i.e., treating and reusing water rather than taking additional water from the source)
- Giving back to the source more water than we withdraw by deploying proper stewardship and replenishment strategies through impactful partnerships around the world
- Investing in and improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in communities near our sites
- Engaging in collective action and key partnerships in support of a net-positive water impact
- Collaborating with partners while investing in research and development that could lead to innovative new ways of managing water in our supply chain
- Continuing to invest in multi-stakeholder and industry initiatives, such as the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER), and the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS)
One collective action water-focused initiative already underway in Jalisco, Mexico is Charco Bendito, an innovative watershed project that brings several beverage industry players together—through BIER—to revitalize 355 hectares by addressing three main goals: water accessibility, quality, and availability.
Progress to date:
- 155 hectares of land restored since 2020 (30 hectares in 2023)
- 66,370 trees planted since 2020 (13,213 trees planted in 2023)
The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin distillery in Hampshire, England became the first spirits production site in the U.K. to achieve Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) Conservation Certification® and was also, at that time, the only spirits company Certified Silver in the U.K.
“The home of BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® is incredibly special—not only for the beautiful gin we produce there, but for its surrounding Hampshire countryside and nature. We put protecting that environment front and center when we designed and built the distillery nearly 10 years ago, and we continue that work to this day, prioritizing doing the right thing.”
– Rodolfo Nervi, VP, Global Safety, Quality & Sustainability, Bacardi
To celebrate Earth Day in FY24, Bacardi unveiled environmental updates at our global headquarters in Bermuda to further reduce our carbon footprint and enhance employee well-being.
A glimpse inside the initiative:
- New solar paneling (444 individual panels) on the office roof generates a total wattage of 224kW Direct Current
- A new, state-of-the-art chiller system reduced the building’s total energy usage while also decreasing CO2 emissions
- Four large tanks on the roof capture rainwater for various uses after filtration, including lawn irrigation, fire sprinklers, and office facilities
- Environmental upgrades also prioritize employee well-being:
- The new chiller system improves indoor air quality
- Newly installed LED lighting enhances light quality and reduces energy consumption
- Additional outdoor seating and community spaces promote outdoor activities and events
- Our commitment to sustainability in Bermuda extends beyond the four walls of our global headquarters:
- Bacardi partnered with local initiative Beyond Plastic Bermuda, a collaboration between Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) and Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB), to educate the local community about the dangers of plastic pollution and encourage actions to reduce single-use plastic on the island
These combined improvements helped us reduce daily electricity consumption at our Bermuda office by 59% (based on kWh per day from March 2020 to 2024).
We introduced a 5cl aluminum mini bottle for GREY GOOSE® vodka, made from entirely recycled aluminum. The process employed in the manufacturing of these bottles uses up to 95% less energy than is typically required for production of the current glass miniature bottles.
Launched with inflight partners Ryanair and Lufthansa, the recyclable aluminum bottles are 80% lighter than glass (at just 11.1 grams) and help airlines reduce weight load. And the new shape is more stable and user friendly for cabin crew.