BACARDÍ Rum Comes of Age in a New Light

10 Apr 2014 --- Bacardi has perfected the art of aging its award-winning rum, so protecting the storage environment that makes this perfection possible is a top priority. Air temperature and humidity – even the strength of the sea breezes – are all closely monitored at the BACARDÍ rum facility in Puerto Rico.

Recently installed solar skylights and state-of-the art ceiling insulation ensure a new level of energy efficiency, quality and safety at the world’s largest premium rum facility. These enhancements boost natural light and help control temperatures inside the warehouses where BACARDÍ rum rests in white oak barrels.

“Because we’re a small Caribbean island with limited resources, we’re always trying to find ways to be more sustainable and maximize the natural resources that are readily available. Installing these new skylights helps us get the most out of the abundant sunshine that Puerto Rico is known for,” says Julio Torruella, Project Director for Bacardi in Puerto Rico.

Since the Company began tracking its global impacts on the environment in 2006, Bacardi has reduced energy use by 25 percent, supported by a 48 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the production of BACARDÍ rum.

Building on current programs and efficiencies that reduce water and energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, the Bacardi Limited “Good Spirited” global sustainability program sets specific goals in three areas:
- 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 percent of the sugarcane-derived products used to make BACARDÍ rum from certified, sustainable sources – and 100 percent by 2022. This pledge from Bacardi is an industry first.
- 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 percent and achieve 15 percent by 2022.
- 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 percent and GHG emissions by 50 percent. In addition, Bacardi aims to eliminate landfill waste at all of its production sites by 2022.