A new trend is sweeping the spirits market, driven by environmental concerns and the push for sustainable packaging. According to research by Really Good Culture, 40 billion glass bottles are produced annually, generating 22 million tons of carbon emissions. Not surprisingly, Sweden is leading the charge in eco-friendly innovations. Absolut, for example, is testing customer patience and eco-consciousness in 29 shopping centers around Manchester with bottles made from 55% paper and recyclable plastics. Pernod Ricard, the brand owner, touts that these paper bottles are eight times lighter and easier to transport. Their durability is also a selling point. Sweden itself is committed to reducing emissions to only 2% of typical distillery levels by 2030.
Cognac A de Fussigny has taken a different approach by using plant-based materials for bottles. The brand, founded forty years ago by Alain Royer, took a gamble by launching its 2050 Organic Cognac in a linen bottle with a label that washes off with hot water two years ago. The gamble paid off as consumers showed a willingness to embrace this change, although not universally.
At Bruichladdich, they’ve decided to eliminate the tin tube packaging for their The Classic Laddie, calculating that this will cut emissions from packaging production by 65%. That’s the equivalent of reducing the number of cars on the roads of Islay by 182!
What Can We Do for Sustainability in Bars?
As bar professionals, sometimes reluctant even to separate waste, what steps can we take towards sustainability? This question remains as crucial as ever.
