HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bacardi Limited has cut water usage by nearly 50 percent and reduced both energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 33 percent over the past six years. The water saved is equivalent to providing a glass of water to every person on the planet. Reductions were achieved through a combination of conservation measures that included more efficient equipment and greater use of renewable energy sources.
These and other industry-leading practices are detailed in “Our Spirit is Clear,” the latest Bacardi Limited Corporate Responsibility (CR) Report, released online today. This new digital report embodies the Company’s forward-looking commitment to reduce both its carbon footprint and impact on the earth’s natural resources.
“When Bacardi sets out to do something, we do it with trust, caring, passion and excellence. These core values have been a part of the Bacardi DNA for more than 150 years,” said Ed Shirley, President and CEO of Bacardi Limited, the world’s largest privately held spirits company. “We’re committed to continuously improving our products, processes, people and corporate citizenship. We aim to chart a new path in sustainable business practices. Our goal is to set the standard against which sustainability efforts in the spirits industry are measured.”
Social responsibility has been a foundation of Bacardi since before the family-owned company’s establishment in 1862. Don Facundo Bacardí Massó initiated and lived this commitment when he volunteered to lead disaster relief efforts in his hometown of Santiago de Cuba following a devastating earthquake in 1852. Since then, Bacardi has built on the tradition established by Don Facundo, the creator of BACARDÍ rum.
“Responsibility is embedded in all aspects of our business. We actively seek measurable ways to improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact and support our grower communities, all while promoting responsible consumption of our brands,” said Eric Kraus, Senior Vice President, Chief Communications and Corporate Affairs Officer, who oversees all Bacardi Limited Corporate Responsibility initiatives.
“Consumers recognize us as an industry leader because of our commitment to the best uses of the resources with which we’ve been entrusted,” added Shirley.
Bacardi focuses its award-winning CR efforts in five key areas: Marketplace; Environment, Health & Safety; Responsible Sourcing; People; and Philanthropy & Community Involvement. Significant accomplishments in fiscal 2012 include:
Marketplace
- Increased awareness of the “Champions Drink Responsibly” social responsibility campaign by engaging 100,000 consumers in 35 countries with the “Ace Rafa” promotion featuring tennis great Rafael Nadal
- Published new digital marketing guidelines; launched via a new social responsibility e-learning module
Environment, Health & Safety
- Achieved a 49.4 percent reduction in water use since 2006; water use efficiency improved by 11 percent, compared to fiscal 2011
- Awarded the Carbon Trust Standard for Bacardi UK operations after reducing carbon footprint by more than 12 percent over three years (a decrease in emissions equivalent to taking 1,128 cars off the road per year) by the Carbon Trust, an organization dedicated to low carbon and energy-saving technologies; Bacardi operations globally reduced carbon emissions by nearly 18 percent during the same period
Responsible Sourcing
- Increased the number of global point-of-sale suppliers that meet our responsible sourcing standards to 70 percent, a 25 percent gain from previous fiscal year
- Registered 257 Bacardi Limited supplier sites with Sedex®, a group dedicated to improving responsible sourcing and ethical business practices in global supply chains; this is a five percent increase over previous year
People
- Rolled out a Global Performance Management system to 3,800 employees in seven languages
- Filled 70 percent of open management-level positions with internal talent; expanded talent reviews to cover the majority of the top levels of Bacardi Limited, comprising nearly 700 employees
Philanthropy & Community Involvement
- Teamed up with Bat Conservation International to support the United Nations-backed International Year of the Bat campaign with a public service announcement to celebrate bats of the world and raise awareness of their environmental and economic benefits
- Continued to align our reporting with the LBG (formerly London Benchmarking Group) model to standardize the management and measurement of our community involvement and contributions in cash and in-kind donations, time volunteered and management costs; further fostered healthy and vibrant communities where Bacardi employees work and live
Bacardi Limited observes Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines in the areas of economic, environmental, social and governance performance to support the existing Bacardi commitment to the United Nations Global Compact.
To read more about Bacardi CR, including how Bacardi is the only major spirits company certified as operating in accordance with the world’s most recognized management standards for quality, environment and health and safety, visit the Corporate Responsibility section of www.bacardilimited.com.
About Bacardi Limited
Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ rum, the world’s best-selling and most-awarded rum, as well as the world’s most-awarded spirit; GREY GOOSE vodka, the world’s leading super-premium vodka; DEWAR’S Blended Scotch whisky, the world’s most-awarded blended Scotch and the best-selling premium blended Scotch whisky in the U.S.; BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, the top-valued and fastest-growing premium gin in the world; MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, the world’s leading vermouth and the world's favorite Italian sparkling wines; CAZADORES 100% blue agave tequila, the number-one premium tequila in Mexico; ERISTOFF vodka, one of the fastest-growing vodka brands in the world; and other leading and emerging brands.
Founded 151 years ago in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862, family-owned Bacardi now employs nearly 6,000 people, manufactures its brands at 27 facilities in 16 markets on four continents and sells in more than 150 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. www.BacardiLimited.com
©2013 BACARDI
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