BACARDI Rum Protects its Island Home with Ambitious "Good Spirited" Recycling Efforts

HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Recycling is crucial on the island home of the world's largest, premium rum distillery in Catano, Puerto Rico. Every year, the facility that makes the world's favorite BACARDI® rum recycles more than 2,000 tons (4 million pounds) of material in a place where landfill space is extremely scarce.

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"Here, we recycle everything we can from paper, plastic, metal, aluminum, cardboard, even electronics," says Lissette Sepulveda, the Environmental Health & Safety Coordinator for Bacardi in Puerto Rico.

As part of its "Good Spirited" sustainability program, Bacardi aims to eliminate landfill waste at all of its production sites by 2022. Protecting the environment where it operates is a cornerstone of the Company's heritage and tradition; Bacardi employees view the mission as one of necessity – but also of great pride.

Even landscape debris goes to good use. "We started transforming the landscaping debris and using it as compost," adds Sepulveda, "This is waste that is not going to go to the landfill, so it's very good for our local environment."

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

Building on current programs that reduce the Company's impact on the environment, 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 BACARDI 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.

To learn more about Bacardi Limited and its "Good Spirited: Building a Sustainable Future" environmental initiative for sourcing, packaging and operational efficiencies across the entire Bacardi family of premium spirits brands, visit http://www.bacardilimited.com/good-spirited.

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 BACARDI® 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; 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, one of the most popular premium tequilas in Mexico and the United States; and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON'S®, the fastest-growing global Scotch whisky brand; ERISTOFF® vodka, one of the fastest-growing vodka brands in the world; and ST-GERMAIN®, a super-premium elderflower liqueur.

Founded 152 years ago in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862, family-owned Bacardi employs nearly 6,000 people, manufactures its brands at 27 facilities and sells in more than 150 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.  www.BacardiLimited.com

About BACARDI Rum
In 1862, in the city of Santiago de Cuba, founder Don Facundo Bacardi Masso revolutionized the spirits industry when he created a light-bodied rum with a particularly smooth taste – BACARDI. The unique taste of BACARDI rum inspired cocktail pioneers to invent some of the world's most famous recipes including the BACARDI Mojito, the BACARDI Daiquiri, the BACARDI Cuba Libre, the BACARDI Pina Colada and the BACARDI Presidente. BACARDI rum is the world's most awarded rum, and spirit, with more than 550 awards for quality, taste and innovation. Today, BACARDI rum is made in Puerto Rico and Mexico where it is crafted to ensure the taste remains the same as it did when it was first blended in 1862. www.bacardi.com

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BACARDI, THE BAT DEVICE & OTHER MARKS RELATED TO PRODUCTS ARE TRADEMARKS OF BACARDI & COMPANY LIMITED OR OF OTHER SUBSIDIARIES OF BACARDI LIMITED.