Green Innovations 43
PROMOTIONAL CONTENT
The other way to drink responsibly There is a big a focus on the environmental impact of the food we eat, however what about the tipples we enjoy? There’s a reason that the ecological impact of alcohol isn’t high on the list of topics spoken about at your local; it can be a sobering topic. So as something that is not so great for you, how does an alcohol brand do good? Recently, the International Wine and Spirits Commission set a standard that brands must meet to be considered sustainable. This encompasses repurposing efforts (including recycling casks, sourcing alternative energy and reducing plastics), supporting the local economy, as well as conscious ingredient sourcing and use.
A hangover to confront Distilleries are reinventing the manufacturing process. The Macallan Harmony Collection Rich Cacao uses materials from the natural world at the end of their life, to see them reborn, like the paper of the box packaging which uses residues from cacao husks. Two Drifters Distillery, the world’s fi rst carbon-negative distillery, is run on 100% renewable energy. The material of the bottle features a natural cork with a FSC wooden top, 100% compostable tamper
seal, paper labels made from 95% sugarcane fibre, and 5% hemp and linen. Meanwhile Bullard Spirits have made the switch to Eco-Refill Pouches, while using less energy to produce, transport and deliver. You can reuse your bottle for life to help minimise carbon footprint. For those looking to avoid a sore head, as well as environmental footprint, Bax Botanics, a premium sustainable low-alcohol and non-alcoholic brand use ethically sourced herbs and botanicals. They utilise recyclable and recycled packaging alongside bottle labels printed on material that is a byproduct from the sugar industry.
A new take on “drinking and driving” According to Drinkaware, the average Brit drinks 22 units of alcohol per week, which is the equivalent of around eight pints of beer, seven glasses of wine or six double shots of gin. This means that the average Brit creates the same amount of CO2 from drinking alcohol as driving between 6km and 21km in a car.
In the spotlight The Hidden Sea The Hidden Sea team have a very clear purpose. One wine, one mission. Their consumer promise is very clear – for every bottle of The Hidden Sea bought, they will remove 10 plastic bottles from the ocean and recycle them. Available in Sainsbury’s and Co-op now.
Producing a pint of locally brewed cask ale emits 300g of CO2 , the equivalent of driving a car 1.5 miles. Brewing a litre of it needs around 350 litres of water, demand for which is set to outstrip supply by 40% in a decade, according to the UN. One facet of building a sustainable brand is lessening the environmental impact of production facilities. Koskenkorva Vodka Climate Action, a Finnish spirit, is made from a unique method using regenerativelyfarmed barley that removes CO2 from the atmosphere and stores it in the ground, creating carbon sinks. The process improves biodiversity, stops nutrients leaking into water bodies and provides better crops at the same time.
Sustainable sipping Eco-friendly production initiatives are a cornerstone for a brand’s eco impact. However a major part in a brand’s holistic environmental
footprint can be employee welfare. Gusto Organic Drinks use agave in all their drinks as a sweetener in place of sugar. Scientists believe that agave-based agroforestry could help reverse global warming as they can grow in hot climates with little to no irrigation. Plus, for every kilo of Fairtrade agave they purchase, 15% of the purchase price goes back to farmers and their families. Sustainability can also include using your brand as a platform. Pernod Ricard announced Plymouth Gin’s long-term partnership with the Ocean Conservation Trust as part of a mission to drive awareness of the importance of a healthy ocean. The distillery team regularly support the charity with beach cleans across the area. So don’t take the fi zz off the ice just quite yet; there’s plenty of drinks brands doing their part for the planet. by Laura Forsyth
checklists.co.uk
@checklistsocial
