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Caribbean rum turns environmental hazard into valuable resource – ESG

Jessica Broadbent
Last updated: 06/10/2026 at 12:31 PM
By Jessica Broadbent
6 October 2026
6 Min Read

Vinasse – the liquid waste left over after the fermentation and distillation of alcohol from sugar-rich materials – forms ‘the central environmental challenge for cane spirits production’, according to the West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers’ Association. But brand owners are increasingly turning to circularity to manage the problematic by-product.


Sugar cane
Credit: iStock

Vinasse – the liquid waste left over after the fermentation and distillation of alcohol from sugar-rich materials – forms ‘the central environmental challenge for cane spirits production’, according to the West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers’ Association. But brand owners are increasingly turning to circularity to manage the problematic by-product.

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Vinasse - or dunder, as it's known in the Caribbean - is a thick, acidic and nutrient-rich liquid left over after rum production that if not properly managed, can wreak havoc on ecosystems.According to the West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers’ Association (WIRSPA), the by-product poses “the central environmental challenge for cane spirits production”. The trade body, which launched its inaugural 'Sustainability in the Caribbean Rum Industry' report at the end of June, represents rum distillers' associations across 15 ACP (Africa, Caribbean & Pacific) countries.“As with spent lee

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Jessica Broadbent
ByJessica Broadbent
Jess joined Global Drinks Intel as deputy editor in January 2026 following a stint as a freelance journalist in Panama. She was previously deputy editor at Just Drinks. She has bylines in other industry titles including The Buyer, Fine Lees and Just Food, and has been a sub-editor at The Daily Mail.
Previous Article Magazine Issue 76 Sep 26 Global Drinks Intel Magazine – October 2026
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