Hamilton, Bermuda : A key ingredient of the world’s favorite BACARDÍ® rum is molasses, a by-product of sugarcane. Around the world, Bacardi aims to select 
suppliers who can produce high quality yields under sustainably certified conditions.
Bonsucro, the global, non-profit organization that fosters the sustainability of the sugarcane sector, assists in the oversight process.
It has developed a metric-based sustainability standard and certification process for the sugarcane industry. Family-owned Bacardi is a founding member and works with the organization to improve economic, environmental and social conditions in the regions around the world where sugarcane is produced.
“The Bonsucro standard covers areas such as human rights and labor conditions, bio-diversity, environmental and economic viability of the sugarcane producers,” explains Natasha Schwarzbach, Interim General Manager for Bonsucro.
Farmers, millers and end-users of sugarcane must meet rigorous requirements to be verified as sustainable by Bonsucro. Then as members, they work collaboratively to raise the bar at every step across the supply chain.
Bacardi is continuing to drive this effort, working with its suppliers to achieve high sustainability standards. The goal by 2022 is that all of its sugarcane products – 100% – used for BACARDÍ rum will come from certified, sustainable sources. This pledge from Bacardi is an industry first.
With that, Bacardi is making a difference on the ground in places where sugarcane is grown. In Fiji, the Company helps sugarcane growers develop model, sustainable farms. The program is a joint partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to educate farmers about increasing crop yields while, at the same time, reducing water runoff and other older practices that are hazardous to the Great Sea Reef.
“There have been a lot of challenges in the sugarcane industry,” says Dave Howson, Global Sustainability Director for Bacardi, the largest privately held spirits company in the world. “That’s why Bonsucro is so important.
It’s really working to develop a sustainable sugarcane industry. Together with Bonsucro, our commitments are also a key pillar to building a sustainable future for Bacardi.”
Since 2006, when the Company began tracking its global impacts on the environment, Bacardi has reduced nonrenewable energy use by 27.7%, supported by a 28.5% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from production.
These activities are part of the Bacardi Limited “Good Spirited: Building a Sustainable Future” initiative that sets specific goals by 2022 for sourcing, packaging and operations across the entire Bacardi family of premium spirits brands to help the Company reach its vision of a zero-net impact:
1. Responsible Sourcing: Bacardi strives to obtain all raw materials and packaging from sustainably sourced, renewable or recycled materials while maintaining or enhancing the economic status of growers and suppliers. By 2017, the goal is to obtain 40% of the sugarcane-derived products used to make BACARDÍ rum from certified, sustainable sources – and 100% by 2022.
2. Global Packaging: Bacardi commits to use eco-design to craft sustainability into its brand packaging and point-of-sale materials.
By 2017, Bacardi plans to reduce the weight of its packaging by 10% and achieve 15% by 2022.
3. Operational Efficiencies: Bacardi continues to focus on reducing water use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with a 2017 goal to cut water use by 55% and GHG emissions by 50%. In addition, Bacardi aims to eliminate landfill waste at all of its production sites by 2022.