Bacardi to cut down on plastic used in packaging

In a move it says is designed to cut around 140 tons of single-use plastic annually, Hamilton, Bermuda-based spirits company Bacardi Limited is removing plastic pourers, also known as a non-refillable fitment (NRF) from its bottles in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Spain and Portugal.

Bacardi says that the plastic NRF is commonplace throughout the spirits industry and can currently found in the neck of a number of its drink brands, such as Bacardi rum, Martini Fiero, Bombay Sapphire gin and Dewar’s White Label blended Scotch whisky.

The company says NRF removal has already begun, and by early 2023, all 1.75 liter bottles of Bacardi rum—including Superior, Gold and Coconut—in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico will no longer contain the plastic pourer, cutting 76 tons of plastic per year. In Spain and Portugal, the NRF will be removed from all brands in the Bacardi portfolio over the next six months.

“We are making this bold move because it’s the right thing to do for the planet,” Bacardi Vice President of Global Safety, Quality and Sustainability Rodolfo Nervi says. “As a family-owned company for more than 160 years, pioneering change is in our DNA, and we’re proud to be leading the industry as we take another huge step towards achieving our commitment to be 100 percent plastic-free by 2030.”

Bacardi says it is reviewing every way in which it is currently using plastic and exploring whether it can be removed or replaced with a more sustainable alternative. In 2023, the company says it plans to remove all single-use plastic from its gift packs and point-of-sale materials.

“Consumers will continue to enjoy the same exceptional quality and taste from our entire portfolio of brands as we continue on our journey to a more sustainable future,” Nervi says.