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“A new solution to a problem for which our industry had no answer.” That’s the claim of drinks company Bacardi as it unveils a 100% biodegradable spirits bottle (pictured above), one that swaps crude oil for a plant-based ‘wonder material’ that will remove 80 million plastic bottles – 3000 tonnes of plastic – currently produced by Bacardi’s portfolio of brands every year.
This sustainable substitute is made of a biopolymer solution called Nodax PHA. It is derived from the natural oils of plant seeds such as canola and soy, and produced at Danimer Scientific.
“What makes it so remarkable is that, while a regular plastic bottle takes more than 400 years to decompose, our new spirits bottle will biodegrade in just 18 months across a range of environments – including compost, soil, freshwater and sea water – without leaving behind any harmful microplastics,” says Bacardi Chief Marketing Officer John Burke.
Bacardí rum will be the first spirit to appear in the new bottle, before the it replaces single-use plastic across the company’s entire supply chain and full brand portfolio. Expect to see household favourites such as Bombay Sapphire gin, Grey Goose vodka, Patrón tequila, Martini vermouth and Dewar’s Scotch whisky in their new, sustainable garb.
Thanks to the versatility of this innovative, new material, Burke says, the company will also crack one of the beverage industry’s longest-standing plastic problems – the plastic lining that seals every bottle, which keeps it from leaking after you open it.
If you consider the vast number of bottles of spirits sold each year around the world, then that is a veritable sea of plastic. “Once we’ve fixed that problem, we’ll make the solution open-source and available for the entire industry to use,” says Burke.
He points out, rightly, that the failing health of the planet is the crisis of our time. Consumers expect brands to do the right thing, on their behalf. “Therefore, a commitment to sustainability cannot be an empty promise,” Burke continues. “It’s essential hygiene, and now forms a large part of brands’ relationship with consumers. You have to deliver on it. A lack of sincere effort won’t go unnoticed.
“Some of the challenges we have can’t be fixed immediately. But as long as brands take sustainability seriously – and there is a concerted effort, which generates steady, incremental improvement – then I think we’re on the right side of history.
“Because we really do need brands to come together and change their tune. To make progress, we need a full symphony.”
Like any symphony, this one may take a while to compose. But in outlining its commitment to and passion for sustainability, Bacardi is striking all the right notes.
