Earlier this month, Global Drinks Intel announced the winners of its inaugural ESG Awards. Here’s a look at why the winners won.
Sustainable Spirits Producer – Flor de Caña
Nicaragua’s Flor de Caña scooped the top spot in part because of its carbon neutrality certification from the Carbon Trust and ethical production recognition from Fair Trade USA.
The rum company, which controls “the entire production process, from field to bottle”, claims to be the world’s first spirits producer to hold the two sustainability certifications. At the same time, Flor de Caña offers its employees an incentive scheme that includes construction materials “for their home improvement projects”.
During fermentation, all CO2 emissions are captured and recycled, earning yet another certification, this time from International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC). “The captured CO2 is then sold to soda and brewery companies in Central America”, a practice that has been in place for almost 20 years.
Then, there is the use of renewable energy for production generated from biomass, the planting by employees of 50,000 trees per year and a company-owned and –operated school and hospital for employees.
Indeed, so all-encompassing is Flor de Caña’s approach to sustainability that the judging panel concluded: “This is a small – but growing – brand that’s punching way above its weight”.
Special Commendation – Clonakilty Distillery
Credit also went to southern Ireland’s Clonakilty Distillery for its circular approach, including sourcing the majority of its barley from no more than 15km away and selecting growers who have signed up to the Irish Grain Assurance Scheme. There’s also a closed-loop water system for its condensers, the switch this year to shredded paper from air sacs for transportation packaging and its sponsorship of the Whale & Dolphin Conservation charity. Preceding the special commendation from Global Drinks Intel, Clonakilty also achieved gold membership of sustainability programme Origin Green this year.
Special Commendation – Mijenta Tequila
In August, Altos Planos, the owner of Mijenta, celebrated its first year as a B Corp company, “the first agave spirits producer to earn this accolade”. This alone is impressive, but then there is also the company’s attention to the finer details. The boxes for Mijenta’s Blanco and Reposado expressions, for example, use “a single strip of non-toxic glue while using no coating or varnish”. The Añejo box, meanwhile, is made from material certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Subscribe to Global Drinks Intel in October for 50% off the usual annual cost
