5 Sustainable Rum Brands You Should Support

Sustainable Rum Brands. As consumers become more conscious of their environmental impact, sustainability is becoming a major factor in how people choose their products, including rum. Some rum brands are making great strides in prioritizing sustainability, from eco-friendly production processes to supporting local communities and reducing waste. If you love rum and want to make choices that align with a greener lifestyle, there are several brands dedicated to doing their part for the environment.

In this article, we’ll highlight five sustainable rum brands that you should support, each making significant efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and promote environmentally responsible practices.

Diplomático (Venezuela)

Sustainability Focus: Waste management, and community investment

Diplomático Rum, produced at the foot of the Andes Mountains in Venezuela, is a globally respected brand known not only for its rich, complex rums but also for its deep commitment to environmental and social sustainability, which today is rooted in its values and operations. 

Key Sustainability Efforts:

• Three Pillars: Diplomático Rum focuses on three keys to distill its premium products: streamline the process, protect the environment, and care for the people.
• Food Waste and Community: The brand fights against food waste by offering training workshops and supporting the local community through programs and other initiatives, alongside NGOs.

Sustainability Certification

Diplomático Rum became the first distillery in Latin America to receive the ISO 14001 certification, an environmental management system that helps companies manage their environmental responsibilities.

Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva is a fan favorite for sipping or cocktails. Choosing Diplomático means supporting a company with sustainability at its core.

Why Support Them?

Diplomático goes beyond green initiatives by creating systemic changes that benefit the environment and their community, making them a leader in sustainable rum production.

Don Q (Puerto Rico)

Sustainability Focus: Renewable energy and waste recycling

Don Q, one of Puerto Rico’s most beloved rum brands, has become a trailblazer in sustainability within the Caribbean. Produced by the family-owned Destilería Serrallés, Don Q takes environmental responsibility seriously, using innovative techniques to reduce its impact.

Key Sustainability Efforts:

• Industrial Wastewater Treatment: The company has its own state-of-the-art wastewater¡ treatment facility, ensuring clean discharge and reduced water pollution. Since 2005, the brand has been proud to say that none of its wastewater ends up in the ocean or river.

The Don Q Gran Añejo is a standout for those who love complex, aged rums. By choosing Don Q, you’re supporting a legacy of responsible production.

Why Support Them?

Don Q blends tradition with innovation, offering a sustainable choice that doesn’t sacrifice quality or flavor.

☝️*Rum Education Time: During the distillation process, once the alcohol is removed from the fermented molasses, wastewater remains in large volumes. 

Flor de Caña (Nicaragua)

Sustainability Focus: Carbon-neutral production and Fair Trade certification

Flor de Caña is a Nicaraguan rum brand that has been a leader in sustainable rum production for over a decade. Their dedication to environmental responsibility is woven into every aspect of their operation, from sourcing raw materials to distillation and packaging.

Key Sustainability Efforts:

• Carbon-Neutral Certified: Flor de Caña is certified carbon-neutral, meaning it offsets its carbon emissions through various environmental initiatives. This includes reforestation projects and investing in renewable energy.
• Fair Trade Certified: In addition to their eco-friendly initiatives, Flor de Caña is Fair Trade certified, ensuring that workers receive fair wages and ethical working conditions. This certification reflects the brand’s commitment to social responsibility, supporting local communities and promoting sustainability on environmental and human levels.
• One Million Trees: Flor de Caña’s commitment to the environment goes beyond. In partnership with One Tree Planted, the brand has planted nearly one million trees since 2005.
• Sustainable Cocktails Competition: The Flor de Caña Cocktail Competition is a celebration of ecological practices through mixology. The competition aims to inspire, promote, and recognize the world’s most talented mixologists. The Participants must incorporate a modern, sustainable twist into the recipes, using contemporary ingredients and demonstrating sustainable practices in sourcing and preparation.

Flor de Caña offers a wide range of rums, including its flagship Flor de Caña 18, which is perfect for sipping. Supporting Flor de Caña means choosing a brand that prioritizes sustainability and ethical practices in its business.

Why Support Them?

Flor de Caña’s commitment to being carbon-neutral and Fair Trade certified makes them one of the most eco-conscious rum producers in the world. You can feel good about purchasing their rums, knowing they prioritize sustainability and fair labor practices.

Mount Gay Rum (Barbados)

Sustainability Focus: Renewable energy and local sourcing

Mount Gay Rum, the world’s oldest commercial rum distillery, has embraced sustainability while continuing its centuries-long tradition of producing high-quality rums. Based in Barbados, Mount Gay is committed to reducing their environmental footprint through sustainable sourcing and energy-efficient production processes.

Key Sustainability Efforts:

Mount Gay’s sustainability efforts are built on 5 key components:

• Energy: Mount Gay has taken major steps to reduce their carbon footprint by implementing solar energy. Solar panels now power a significant portion of their distillery operations, making them one of the leaders in renewable energy within the spirits industry.
  
• Sustainable Agriculture: The brand sources its sugarcane and molasses from sustainable farms, many of which are located locally in Barbados. This reduces transportation emissions and supports the local agricultural economy.
  
• Water: As a commitment to protect the natural resources, the brand also focuses on managing the wastewater through water harvesting and irrigating the soil with vinasse. Reusing the plentiful rainfall from the distillery roofs and ponds.

Furthermore, in partnership with 40cean, the company has also removed more than 160,000 lbs. from the ocean. This is an ongoing process, an oath to Barbados. 

• Carbon Footprint: Mount Gay goes beyond. Its team has reduced the weight of glass across the core range and optimized the packaging. The team is working with ecoSpirits to provide new solutions to reduce CO2 emissions.
• Community: The heart of every brand and company is people. In Mount Gay, the main commitment is to the community and its coworkers by giving support through training and awards, inspiring the new generation, providing scholarships, and promoting the habit of responsibly drinking with ONG programs and more.

Mount Gay’s Black Barrel rum is one of their standout offerings, boasting a rich, smoky flavor profile. By supporting Mount Gay, you’re choosing a brand that honors tradition while leading the way in sustainable rum production.

Why Support Them?

Mount Gay’s focus on renewable energy and sustainable farming practices ensures that their rums are not only delicious but also environmentally responsible.

Ron Barceló (Dominican Republic)

Sustainability Focus: Zero carbon footprint and energy efficiency

Ron Barceló, a popular Dominican rum brand, has made a significant commitment to sustainability through its Zero Carbon certification. The company has taken a comprehensive approach to reducing its environmental impact, focusing on carbon emissions and energy consumption across its production chain.

Key Sustainability Efforts:

• The RB360 Sustainability Code:

To reduce its environmental impact, Barceló has implemented the RB360 Code, a set of policies based on four indicators that include the different transversal aspects of Barceló’s production process. They are the following ones: 

The Field indicator is related to the company’s agronomic activities and their impact on soil management.

The Water indicator evaluates the impact on water resources used in the field activity and through the rum production processes. 

The Territory indicator limits the impact on the space where Barceló operates, conidering the environmental, social, and economic effects of the entrepreneurial activity on the landscape and the local community.

The air indicator is focused on caring for this resource through managing the polluting gas emissions, mainly greenhouse gases deriving from the life cycle of products and the organization, to reduce and neutralize them.

• Zero Carbon Footprint: Ron Barceló is the first rum brand in the world to achieve a Zero Carbon certification. This means they have offset 100% of their carbon emissions through renewable energy projects, energy efficiency improvements, and other sustainability initiatives.

• In 2016, Barceló was certified by Bilan Carbone®, a method developed by the French Environment and Energy Control Agency ( ADEME) that allows estimating GHG emissions generated by activities related to goods production or services based on a transparent and open calculation principle.

If you’re interested in the RB360 Sustainability Code, the Barceló team has created a comprehensive PDF outlining key processes to improve environmental practices.

• Energy Efficiency: The distillery utilizes energy-efficient practices in its fermentation and distillation processes, reducing energy consumption and minimizing waste. Their use of high-efficiency boilers and solar energy further supports their zero-carbon goals.
• UN Climate Neutral Now: Furthermore, it is the first rum brand to join United Nations Climate Neutral Now, an initiative that supports the implementation of climate-friendly measures aimed at limiting temperature increases to below 1.5°C and achieving global carbon neutrality by mid-century.

Ron Barceló produces a range of affordable and flavorful rums, with Barceló Imperial being a favorite among rum lovers. By supporting Ron Barceló, you’re choosing a brand that has fully embraced its environmental responsibility.

Why Support Them?

As the world’s first Zero Carbon certified rum brand, Ron Barceló is a pioneer in eco-friendly rum production. Supporting this brand means aligning with a company that takes significant steps to minimize its environmental footprint.

Why Choosing Sustainable Rum Matters

Supporting sustainable rum brands like Diplomatico, Don Q, Flor de Caña, Mount Gay, and Ron Barceló is good for the environment, the communities, and the ecosystems involved in production. These brands are taking significant steps toward reducing their carbon footprint, conserving natural resources, and ensuring fair labor practices, all while producing exceptional rums.

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Source of information

The information used to compose this article comes directly from the websites of the mentioned brands and the Ultimate Awards website.

The image of the article is courtesy of © nazar_ab via Canva.com