Bacardi is planting a tree for each of its employees to mark its 161st anniversary this month.
As “a gift to the planet and its people”, the drinks company said this celebration aims to support biodiversity, help local communities, and capture a combined 2.5M kg of CO2 during the trees’ lifetime.
This week, everyone in the company will receive an anniversary edition bottle of Bacardi Carta Blanca, labelled with a QR code which enables them to plant their own tree and then track its progress and positive impact through an online platform.
Bacardi said this project is part of its goal to be the “most responsible global spirits company in the world.” The company also demonstrates its commitment to restoring communities, revitalising natural ecosystems, and revolutionising the way it does business through its extensive environmental, social and governance programme, Good Spirited.
Bacardi Limited CEO Mahesh Madhavan said: “As a family-owned company, doing the right thing is in our DNA, and all of us at Bacardi share that passion for taking care of the environment.
“By creating our very own Bacardi forests, we can all take pride in having our own positive impact and being part of our company’s legacy for the next 161 years and beyond.”
The trees will be planted in India, Nepal, Indonesia, Ecuador, and Madagascar, with 11 different species carefully selected to maximise the benefits to each location and community.
Bacardi said that the tree planting sites represent areas where it sources some of the botanicals and raw ingredients used in crafting its premium drinks portfolio, which includes Bacardi rum, Bombay Sapphire gin, Grey Goose vodka, Patrón tequila, Martini vermouth and Dewar’s Scotch whisky.
Bacardi Limited Chief Supply Chain Officer Dave Ingram added: “We care deeply about the farmers who grow our beautiful ingredients and take great pride in the strong relationships we’ve spent decades building with these communities.
“Planting these trees on their doorsteps is another way of giving back as we invest in their future and in protecting the environment for generations to come.”
Other activities to celebrate Bacardi’s 161st year include planting 161 coconut trees in Puerto Rico, home to the world’s largest premium rum distillery where Bacardi rum is produced. The trees will help regenerate and protect a beach located near the distillery, an area that was significantly damaged by a hurricane in recent years.
This initiative is also in honour of a coconut palm, ‘El Coco.’ The tree was planted in front of its first distillery in Cuba as a symbol of the strength and resilience of the company after withstanding a distillery fire, five earthquakes, and numerous hurricanes.
At Bacardi’s global headquarters in Bermuda, the company will also plant 100 cedar saplings at one of the island’s nature reserves. A highly valued and symbolic tree in Bermuda, the cedar supports biodiversity by providing a crucial nesting site for birds such as the native Bluebird.
On 4 February Bacardi will celebrate 161 years since Don Facundo Bacardí Massó founded the company in Santiago de Cuba. Family-owned over seven generations, Bacardi grew from a single rum brand to a portfolio of global spirits brands. ✈