After decades spent building sustainable partnerships with farmers and suppliers, Bombay Sapphire is on track for all ten of its botanical ingredients on track to be certified sustainable in 2021.
Suppliers of eight of the botanicals are already certified according to the the world’s leading specialist in the certification of sustainable practices, For Life standard and the goal is for the remaining two producers
– for grains of paradise from Ghana and liquorice from China – to be certified shortly after travel restrictions are lifted.
The achievement is in step with Bacardi’s company vision to ensure all of its key ingredients are sourced from sustainably certified suppliers by 2025.
Bombay Sapphire’s botanicals, which include juniper from Tuscany, coriander from Morocco, lemon peel from Spain and cubeb berries from Java, are hand selected by the brand’s Master of Botanicals, Ivano Tonutti.
“We take a 360-degree approach to sustainability,” says Ivano Tonutti. ”It’s our responsibility to care as much about the farmers and their communities as we do the botanicals they grow and harvest for Bombay Sapphire. By looking after their well-being and investing in sustainable farming practices, we are helping to protect the environment and their livelihoods for generations to come.”
In Ghana where, Bacardi has worked with AIESEC, a local non-governmental organisation, for a number of years to help the community establish itself as an independent farming cooperative – from installing a water pump, which now supplies the village with fresh water, to recruiting an agronomist for expert advice and guidance. This year, the village will harvest its first crop of grains of paradise for Bombay Sapphire.
“For Life certification gives consumers peace of mind that ingredients are coming from organisations committed to continuous improvement,” says Ecocert CEO Philippe Thomazo, “For Life means that suppliers growing and harvesting the certified botanicals for Bombay Sapphire are acting responsibly in every respect.”
Sarah Nichols, Marketing Director for Bacardi ANZ, says: “Bombay Sapphire is famous for being blue but it’s also incredibly green. Our sustainability credentials are second to none and thanks to the team’s hard work we are reaching new heights. We’re now hoping to inspire others to follow in our footsteps. It’s only if we invest in the environment as an industry that we can really move the needle.”
Bacardi worked closely with its suppliers to help them achieve For Life certification. To be certified, suppliers must commit to continuous improvement in the following areas:
- the well-being of the people involved in the harvesting and supply of the botanicals
- the reduction of their environmental impact
- their responsible purchasing practices
- and sustainable development at a local level and key stages in the supply chain.
