Havana Club embraces closed-loop distribution
Pernod Ricard-owned Havana Club has introduced a closed-loop distribution system developed by EcoSpirits.
Havana Club installed an EcoPlant at its San José distillery earlier this year. The facility will be used for cleaning, sanitising and refilling 4.5-litre containers of its Añejo 3 Años rum.
The EcoTotes will then be transported to on-trade venues across the island, significantly reducing glass waste and bottle imports. The move is estimated to reduce the brand’s carbon emissions related to premium spirits packaging and distribution by 88%, while glass waste will be reduced by 99%.
In May this year, Pernod Ricard signed a five-year global licensing agreement with EcoSpirits, allowing it to use the brand’s closed-loop packaging technology in new markets. Havana Club is the first brand in the group to have an in-house EcoPlant within its distillery. Pernod Ricard took a minority stake in EcoSpirits last year.
The first business to sign up to the initiative is Iberostar Cuba Hotels & Resorts, with two of its Cuban venues adopting the closed-loop system.
To highlight the initiative further, Pernod Ricard hosted its annual ‘Responsib’All Day’ event on 21 June at San José distillery. More than 500 guests – including Havana Club and Iberostar Cuba staff and representatives from the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment – learned about the new project and other circular economy initiatives.
Marie Benech, communications, public affairs and CSR director at Havana Club, said: “We are overjoyed to welcome EcoSpirits into our operations, as it represents a profound leap towards sustainability at Havana Club and marks a milestone in our journey towards a greener future.
“Respecting the land that produces our rum is fundamental to our mission and deeply ingrained in the Cuban way of life. The world is made of finite resources, and we are committed to minimising waste at every step.”
“Operating our own EcoPlant in the heart of Cuba is Havana Club’s latest sustainable initiative aimed at reducing our carbon footprint and positively impacting the communities we serve at local and global scale alike.”
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