Which of your company’s sustainability initiatives/achievements are you most proud of?

I am most proud of our efforts to cut GHG emissions in half (based on intensity) over the last 10 years. For me, that is one of our biggest achievements since it was achieved more than one year ahead of the proposed target. There were a lot of people driving this achievement within our company – from top-level management to operators within the facilities. Many levels of support were provided throughout the organization, which was key to ensuring its success.

In addition, being named among the most reputable companies in the world for that past six years is an accolade we are all proud of. It is very rewarding to know that we are recognized as a good corporate citizen.

What is your favorite practical insight you have gained from being in BIER?

Benchmarking and best practice sharing are my favorite practical insights as they enable us to learn from each other regarding common topics and share solutions.

How has being in BIER shaped your sustainability strategy/enriched your sustainability strategy?

We take the lessons we’ve learned from members within BIER, including benchmarking studies, best practices, and more – there is always more to learn! I try to absorb as much as I can and use this information to shape our practices and strategies. Interactions with stakeholders at BIER meetings provide an opportunity to understand their needs and expectations, which enables us to delineate our strategy properly. Stakeholder engagement has been increasing over the past few years and is definitely beneficial – the leverage is different when members can speak to the industry as a whole, versus just Bacardi standing alone, and this can feed partnerships within our supply chains to make sure our values align.

What area(s) of BIER’s work and the working group initiatives are you most interested in? Why?

I have a very special interest in the best practice and technology sharing around water, which can help us find solutions to internal problems we may be facing. It aligns with the original principle of BIER and goes back to our roots as a “technical coalition.”

In addition, as we have a strong conviction to drive sustainability and protection of water, Bacardi proudly wears the title of a founding member of the Stockholm Water Prize. This global award is presented annually by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) to an individual, organization or institution for outstanding water-related achievements.

What’s one cool thing people might not know about you or your company?

When people think about Bacardi, many people only think about rum – but we produce much more than just rum! We own more than 200 brands and labels, including the iconic brands of GREY GOOSE, MARTINI, DEWAR’S, PARTÓN and BOMBAY SAPPHIRE. In addition, we are privately held—we have been owned for more than 156 years by the Bacardí family.

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, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S®, ERISTOFF® vodka, and ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur.

Founded more than 156 years ago, in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862, family-owned Bacardi currently employs approximately 5,500, operates more than 20 production facilities, including bottling, distilling and manufacturing sites, and sells its brands in more than 170 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. www.bacardilimited.com