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MIAMI 6 December 2023 ecoSPIRITS USA has announced that Breakthru Beverage Group, one of the largest North American beverage alcohol distributors, has joined the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program as an Official Distributor Partner. Breakthru distributes a diverse portfolio of brands across many territories in both the United States and Canada and it already has spirits brands ready to be deployed in ecoTOTE format in Florida, followed by California in the coming months. The partnership will also accelerate ecoSPIRITS USA’s expansion in the state, bringing new brand partners, venues and distribution resources to the circular economy.

The premium spirit brands Coconut Cartel rum and Barr Hill Gin will be the first from Breakthru’s portfolio to be distributed in ecoTOTE format to venues in Florida.

The United States is known for its three-tier system – comprising of producers, distributors and retailers – for distributing alcoholic beverages, which was set up after the repeal of Prohibition. The three-tier system mandates that producers can sell their products only to wholesale distributors who then sell to retailers (and bars and restaurants), and only the latter group can sell to consumers. Distributors therefore play an essential role in the market, and while they have no involvement in manufacturing, they act as the representatives of the brand and supplier in determining their route to market. There are around 4,000 beverage alcohol distributors in the United States, with the 10 largest controlling more than 72% of the market between them. The largest multi-state distributors – such as Breakthru – differ from each other by offering a combination of size, service and portfolio.

The state of Florida has the second largest market for beverage alcohol in the United States.

Breakthru is a family-owned and operated beverage alcohol wholesaler and is one of the top three alcohol beverage distributors in the United States. It has a diverse portfolio of more than 6,000 wine, spirits and beer brands from many of the industry’s leading suppliers. The company, which is headquartered in New York, operates in 45 facilities across North America – including Canada and 16 U.S. states such as Florida, California, Arizona and Illinois – and has more than 9,000 employees. Breakthru will begin by distributing premium rum brand Coconut Cartel and the award-winning, super premium Barr Hill Gin in ecoTOTE format to venues in Florida. The state has the second largest beverage alcohol markets in the United States, with more than 23 million 9-liter cases consumed in 2022. Other Breakthru brands will be made available in ecoTOTE format in the coming months.

Coconut Cartel is a 100% pure Guatemalan añejo rum cut to proof with coconut water. The rum, which was first launched in 2012, is aged in new, charred American white oak barrels for four to 12 years, and cut to 80 proof with freshly harvested coconut water. It has tropical aromas of fresh coconut with hints of banana, mango and vanilla, and upon tasting, there are notes of plantain, caramel, sandalwood and burnt brown sugar.

Coconut Cartel is made from rum aged in new, charred American oak barrels, which is then cut to 80 proof with coconut water.

Barr Hill Gin is made using organic juniper and is finished with raw honey from the local area in Montpelier, Vermont. The gin is one of the most awarded gins in the U.S. The honey adds a light sweetness to the gin, which also has hints of vanilla, clove and cayenne.

The multi award-winning Barr Hill Gin is finished with raw honey from Montpelier, Vermont.

To find out more information about opportunities to partner with ecoSPIRITS in America, please contact Jessica Berry at [email protected]. For media inquiries or general information on ecoSPIRITS, you may contact Sonya Hook, Senior PR Manager at [email protected].

About Breakthru Beverage Group

Breakthru Beverage Group is one of the leading alcohol wholesalers in the United States and the largest broker in Canada representing a full total beverage alcohol portfolio of spirits, wine and beer. Breakthru is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and supports a wide range of notable organizations as well as local charitable initiatives across its North American footprint. Across all markets, Breakthru aligns a nimble and insightful approach to sales, marketing and operations. Family ownership is active in the business and committed to being stewards of heritage and champions of innovation.

For more information, visit www.breakthrubev.com.

About Coconut Cartel

Coconut Cartel’s quality comes from decades of craftsmanship, fermentation and distilling methods, and a world-class aging house in Guatemala. Its innovation, however, is in the proprietary proofing process: Coconut Cartel’s rum distillate is aged in new, charred American White oak for up to 12 years. Instead of using filtered water to bring the cask strength rum down to bottle proof (40% ABV), fresh, locally sourced coconut water is used as the proofing agent. The natural minerals, sugars and salts found in coconut water smoothen the blend and add a unique viscosity to the rum, making it incredibly smooth and refreshing to sip. Coconut Cartel Special combines traditional, old school rum artistry and new school innovation. The result is truly one-of-a-kind rum that appeals to a wide spectrum of consumers.

For more information visit: www.coconutcartel.com.

About Barr Hill Gin

Barr Hill Gin is the producer’s odd to the hardworking bees of the Northeast. The juniper-forward botanicals are brought to a perfect balance by the floral depth of the raw honey. The results are distinctive and unparalleled. Barr Hill Gin is distilled once in our custom-built botanical extraction still with hand-crushed, organic juniper, and then finished with raw honey from our region. The raw honey contributes botanical depth from the countless wildflowers foraged by the bees. How do we extract such complexity from simple raw materials? Our secrets are kept in the hive.

For more information, visit: www.barrhill.com.

About ecoSPIRITS

ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 23 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. More than 2,000 leading bars, restaurants, hotels and retailers have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 27 countries worldwide by early 2024. Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers, venues, and retailers, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.

For more information, visit: https://ecospirits.global.

LONDON 30 November 2023 Diageo and ecoSPIRITS have announced a global agreement for the distribution of a range of Diageo spirits brands in ecoSPIRITS’ circular packaging technology in an expected 18 markets over the next three years. Diageo’s commitment to broad deployment of a circular packaging format is the first of its kind in the spirits industry and forms part of its 10-year ESG action plan Society 2030: Spirit of Progress. As part of the new collaboration, Diageo spirit brands will be made available at participating bars, restaurants and hotels in ecoSPIRITS’ award-winning ecoTOTE™ format, starting with Smirnoff vodka, Captain Morgan rum, and Gordon’s gin. ecoSPIRITS is also investing in expanding its customer success resources to support the new collaboration, fielding an implementation team in London dedicated to supporting technology deployments in individual Diageo markets around the world.

As part of the new agreement, Diageo will have access to ecoSPIRITS’ circular packaging technology platform, including the ecoTOTE, SmartPour™ and CircularONE™ technologies. Diageo brands and local market affiliates will also have access to ecoSPIRITS’ global network of ecoPLANT™ processing sites, which are operated by its licensed operators in more than 25 countries around the world. The global agreement provides a flexible framework that allows individual Diageo markets to pilot and scale circular packaging as part of their local business development and sustainability plans.

Diageo first started working with ecoSPIRITS in 2021 through the Diageo Sustainable Solutions programme, which aims to find technology innovators that can bridge the innovation gap across Diageo’s supply chain to help the company reach its ESG targets. The partnership also aligns with Diageo’s Society 2030: Spirit of Progress plan and it is a step towards its goal of reducing carbon emissions across the supply chain by 50% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.

The new global partnership builds on the successful ongoing pilot programme of the ecoSPIRITS technology by Diageo Indonesia that started in 2022. As part of this initiative, Smirnoff vodka is supplied in ecoTOTE format to 38 leading bars, restaurants and hotels in Bali and Jakarta. Diageo Indonesia also commissioned an ecoPLANT 2.0S to process and refill ecoTOTEs at its existing production facility in Bali. The local closed loop system has been operational for almost a year, generating positive feedback from outlet partners and consumers alike and confirming the commercial viability of circular packaging in the Indonesian market.

Updating global supply chains to accommodate circular packaging formats is a complex endeavour, requiring a close working partnership between ecoSPIRITS and global customers like Diageo. To support the new partnership, and in response to continued growth in demand for circular packaging worldwide, ecoSPIRITS is expanding its London office with the appointment of additional customer success resources. ecoSPIRITS’ newly-appointed Senior Vice President, Customer Success, James Doyle, will lead global and regional teams supporting Diageo and its local market affiliates as they integrate ecoSPIRITS’ platform of ecoPLANT, ecoTOTE, SmartPour and CircularONE technologies into their local operations. The expanded London-based team will include global project and technical leads dedicated to supporting Diageo deployments under the new global agreement.

Under the new partnership, Diageo’s spirit brands will be made available in ecoTOTE format at participating markets, with Gordon’s gin initially set to join Smirnoff vodka and Captain Morgan rum. In 2024, new Gordon’s gin co-branded editions of the ecoTOTE 3.0S and SmartPour 2.0S will join the existing Smirnoff vodka and Captain Morgan rum editions. Taken together, the selection of premium vodka, gin and rum offerings in circular packaging allows partnering bars, restaurants and hotels to reduce single use packaging waste and carbon footprint associated with some of their highest-volume pouring spirits.

More details of the companies’ collaboration plans, including initial market launches, will be announced in early 2024.  For media enquiries and general information please contact [email protected] or Jessica Hurford, Sustainability Communications Manager, Diageo, on [email protected] and Sonya Hook, Senior PR Manager, ecoSPIRITS, on [email protected].

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits and beer categories These brands include Johnnie Walker, Singleton, Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray, and Guinness. Diageo is a global company whose products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com.

Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

About ecoSPIRITS

ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 23 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. More than 2,000 leading bars, restaurants, hotels and retailers have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 27 countries worldwide by early 2024. Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers, venues, and retailers, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.

For more information, visit: https://ecospirits.global.

MELBOURNE 27 November 2023 ecoSPIRITS licensed operator Proof & Company has expanded its closed loop offering in Australia with the launch of the first vermouth to be available in ecoTOTE™ format. The move, which builds on a ten-year relationship between Proof & Company and Mancino Vermouth, a leading global craft vermouth brand, represents the first time a vermouth has been available in low carbon, low waste circular packaging. The partnership with Mancino Vermouth has been made possible with ecoSPIRITS’ new circular wine technology, which offers lifecycle preservation for wines and vermouth from production to point of service. Mancino Vermouth in ecoTOTE format is now available in the first Australian venues.

Mancino Vermouth was selected as the vermouth category launch partner for ecoSPIRITS’ circular packaging system. The brand, created by legendary Italian bartender, Giancarlo Mancino, is known for being a product of exceptional quality and refined character. Mancino is produced through the fortification of a delicate Trebbiano di Romana wine and the infusion of 38 aromatic herbs, resulting in a full-bodied 16% ABV vermouth. In 2021, the brand was acquired by The Lucano Group, the world renowned Italian amaro and spirits company.

Mancino Vermouth is made using the finest hand-picked spices and botanicals.

Vermouth is a fortified wine – part of the ‘aromatised’ wine family – and it is traditionally drunk as an aperitivo, before a meal. This botanical drink has been popular for many years in Italy, Spain and France, and in recent years this trend has spread to Australia. Popular in the bar world, Mancino Vermouth is often used as an ingredient for cocktails such as the Negroni, the Manhattan, martinis and summer spritzes. Leading Asia Pacific independent spirits distributor, Proof & Company, has been distributing Mancino Vermouth to bars, hotels and restaurants across Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and China for more than 10 years.

Vermouth is popular as a cocktail ingredient for drinks such as the Negroni and the Manhattan.

Mancino Vermouth is now available in the stone grey ecoTOTE 3.0W which forms part of ecoSPIRITS’ circular wine technology. The wine version of ecoSPIRITS closed loop system has been designed to eliminate single use glass, while also delivering hygiene, oxidation, temperature and ultraviolet light protection to wines and vermouth. Vermouth ecoTOTEs are processed at an ecoPLANT 2.0W, which has been upgraded to support bottling of wines and vermouths. The upgraded ecoPLANT generates high purity nitrogen gas for vermouth blanketing and preservation once in the ecoTOTE. Venues receiving their Mancino Vermouth in ecoTOTE format can refill branded Mancino bottles using a SmartPour™, in the same way that venues work with spirits in ecoTOTE format.

The first venues in the Australian cities of Melbourne and Sydney have already started receiving Mancino Vermouth in ecoTOTE format delivered by Proof & Company. Early Melbourne-based pioneers include Chinatown’s contemporary whisky and cocktail bar, One or Two Bar, and Continental Deli in Hawthorn. Meanwhile, Hilton Sydney’s Zeta Cocktail Bar is one of the early adopters of this technology in Sydney.

Hilton Sydney’s popular cocktail destination, Zeta Bar, is now taking Mancino Vermouth in ecoTOTE format.

For media inquiries or general information about ecoSPIRITS, please contact Sonya Hook, Senior PR Manager, at [email protected].

About Mancino Vermouth

Mancino Vermouth was born in 2011 in a small family-run distillery in Asti, Piedmont. The distillery, established over 60 years ago in 1957, inspired Giancarlo Mancino, owner of the brand, to compose his own vermouth using only the finest hand-picked spices and botanicals. From the moment you pick up the bottle, its classic look and feel, together with the bittersweet concoctions awaiting inside, impress upon you the timeless character that make Mancino Vermouth an integral part of the world’s finest cocktail bars.

For more information, please visit www.mancinovermouth.com.

About Proof & Company

Proof & Company is one of Asia Pacific’s leading independent spirits companies, merging a disruptive approach to independent spirits distribution with a team of highly regarded bartenders and educators, a customer-focused mindset, and the region’s leading hospitality clients. From offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Auckland and Christchurch, Proof & Company manages the exclusive distribution of a portfolio of independent spirits, craft cocktail ingredients, and premium bar tools and glassware. Proof Creative’s award-winning team of Senior Bar Consultants is one of the most well-regarded creative teams in the cocktail and spirits community globally. Together they guide the development of bars for clients across Asia Pacific. Four of these bars ranked in the World’s 50 Best Bars list of 2020 and eight in the Asia’s 50 Best Bars List 2021, including Proof & Company’s own cocktail bar, 28 HongKong Street in Singapore.

For more information, please visit https://proofandcompany.com/.

About ecoSPIRITS

ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first closed loop packaging system for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 23 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. Almost 2,000 leading bars, restaurants, hotels and retailers have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 27 countries worldwide by late 2023. Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers, venues, and retailers, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.

For more information, please visit: https://ecospirits.global/.

LAS VEGAS 6 November 2023 eS Operator USA I LLC, ecoSPIRITS’ licensed operator for the United States, will launch closed loop spirits packaging service in Nevada, starting with Las Vegas, a city known for its high concentration of casinos, hotels and bars. As part of the Nevada launch, a new ecoPLANT, the third in the US market, will be brought online in partnership with 17A Stillery LLC,  a Las Vegas-based distillery. One of city’s largest casinos – South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa – will act as the launch customer in the state, piloting the closed loop spirits technology for high volume casino beverage operations. As part of the launch, ecoSPIRITS has also developed a new technology solution to make its award-winning ecoTOTE™ format compatible with back-of-house systems known as ‘pump rooms’, which are commonplace in the casino industry. The Nevada ecoPLANT will begin deploying spirits in ecoTOTE format from January 2024.

The ecoPLANT host for Nevada, 17A Stillery, produces City Light Shine, which is 100% distilled in Las Vegas from a traditional southern moonshine recipe using a whiskey-style mash to create moonshine in flavors such as blueberry and salted caramel. 17A Stillery was founded by Brendan Gaughan, whose family also owns the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa. The Gaughan family has operated and owned casinos in Las Vegas since the late 1940s; Brendan Gaughan is the grandson and son of Vegas gaming pioneers Jackie Gaughan and Michael Gaughan. The South Point casino is one of Las Vegas’s busiest resorts, boasting a 64-lane bowling center, 16-theatre movie complex, 600-seat bingo hall, 11 restaurants and six bars. The South Point is also home to the country’s largest indoor equestrian center with a 4,400-seat arena and more than 1,300 indoor, climate controlled horse stalls. The South Point will be the first hospitality venue in Nevada to take delivery of spirits in ecoTOTE format, starting in January 2024, with others set to join shortly after.

17A Stillery, which is famous for producing City Light Shine, is the host company for the Nevada ecoPLANT.

The South Point is situated on Las Vegas Boulevard, just a few miles south of the famous Las Vegas Strip, a stretch of the Boulevard known for its high concentration of resort hotels and casinos. The Strip is home to many of the largest hotel, casino and resort properties in the world, establishing it as one of the most popular and iconic tourist destinations globally and one of the driving forces for Las Vegas’s economy. The hotel casino properties are known for their contemporary architecture, lights and wide variety of attractions and in recent years resorts have trended towards the luxurious high end segment, including high end dining, nightclubs and cocktail bars.

The South Point Hotel, Casino & Resort is one of Las Vegas’s busiest resorts.

Although the Las Vegas Strip has elaborate neon lighting displays, many of the hotel resort properties have made extensive sustainability efforts, including water conservation, recycling, waste reduction and energy efficiency programs. Renewable energy is generated and used on the Strip, while energy efficient buildings are also being implemented and this area has one of the highest concentrations of LEED-certified buildings in the world. The South Point casino is among those with sustainability high up on its agenda and its efforts include a focus on reducing water, waste and energy usage. By taking delivery of spirits in ecoTOTE format, The South Point will help demonstrate the benefits of reducing single use glass waste in Las Vegas on a large commercial scale.

The Las Vegas Strip has elaborate displays but also one of the highest concentrations of LEED-certified buildings in the world.

As part of the new partnership, ecoPLANT No. 30 will be located in a dedicated production and warehouse facility to be operated by 17A Stillery, with distillery production staff trained and supported by ecoSPIRITS’ global Circular Operations team.

The ecoPLANT for Nevada will be located in a production facility operated by 17A Stillery.

To support the casino industry in Nevada, ecoSPIRITS has worked with The South Point to develop a technology extension that makes its ecoTOTE format compatible with casino back-of-house systems for house pour spirits known informally as ‘pump rooms.’ These systems allow high volume beverage operations to efficiently dispense house spirits in ‘draft’ form on the casino floor; however, the high volume of spirits poured make these operations a major source of single use glass waste. By integrating a circular packaging solution into existing casino beverage systems, ecoSPIRITS can help operators eliminate nearly all of the packaging waste generated by their highest volume house pour spirits.

The ecoSPIRITS technology has been upgraded to suit back-of-house casino pump rooms.

For information about opportunities to partner with ecoSPIRITS in North America, please contact Jessica Berry at [email protected]. For media inquiries or general information on ecoSPIRITS, you may contact Sonya Hook, Senior PR Manager at [email protected].

About 17A Stillery

City Light Shine is produced by 17A Stillery. We are the only legal distillery in the history of Las Vegas. Our facility is located in the Southwest area of Las Vegas approximately 3.5 miles west of the South Point Casino. The name of the company is derived from one of our founder’s NASCAR roots. Mike Dolan was a former NASCAR official for over 20 years and his radio designation was ‘17A’, so our name is in honor of his former career and our southern beginnings, which everyone knowns, all the best shines come from the South. The rest of the company is all Vegas! Brendan Gaughan’s family goes all the way back to the 1940s and the Gaughan family name has become synonymous with Las Vegas and is the name that all the locals know and trust.

For more information, visit: www.citylightsshine.com.

About South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa

South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa is a resort located in the heart of the premiere southwest Las Vegas valley, just minutes away from the famous Las Vegas Strip. Some of our many amenities include a 16-screen Century Theatre movie complex, 64-lane bowling center and 60 lane tournament bowling plaza and a variety of 11 restaurants that cater to all appetites and tastes. Our Las Vegas casino features a large selection of table games including Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Progressive Fortune Pai-Gow Poker, No Commission Baccarat, Ultimate Texas Hold ‘em with Progressive and Three Card Poker with Progressive. More than 2,100 of the most popular slot and video poker machines featuring ticket-in, ticket-out technology. Our distinctive hotel features spacious rooms and suites with 50 inch view surface with 4k resolution televisions, Point Plush mattresses and Wireless Fidelity throughout. A unique feature to this property is its Equestrian Center, which is the finest horse facility in the country. South Point also has a fabulous 400-seat showroom that features headliner entertainment and dancing to live bands.

For more information, visit: www.southpointcasino.com.

About ecoSPIRITS

ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 22 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. Nearly 2,000 leading bars, restaurants, hotels and retailers have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 27 countries worldwide by the end of 2023. Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers, venues, and retailers, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.

For more information, visit: https://ecospirits.global/.

ROTTERDAM 26 September 2023 ecoSPIRITS has appointed one of the leading producers of quality cocktail liqueurs in the world as its Licensed Operator for the Netherlands and Belgium. De Kuyper Royal Distillers will be the new Licensed Operator for ecoSPIRITS Benelux, initially bringing closed loop spirits to the Netherlands market. A range of De Kuyper’s spirits and liqueur brands will be available in low waste ecoTOTE format from January 2024. This partnership also paves the way for the expansion of closed loop service across the Benelux region, with ecoTOTEs expected to be deployed to venues in Belgium from early 2024.

De Kuyper Royal Distillers has been distilling for more than 325 years and is one of the world’s leading liqueur producers. The family-owned business has its own distillery in Schiedam in the Netherlands where it creates premium cocktail liqueurs using natural botanicals and handcrafted distillates and extracts. For five years in a row the company has been awarded the coveted title of ‘Liqueur Producer of the Year’ by the prestigious International Spirits Challenge. De Kuyper also has a 100% subsidiary company, Team Products, which is an internationally-renowned independent producer of spirits, cream liqueurs, advocaat, and flavoured liqueurs. It also produces private label and third party products for brands, distillers and producers all over the world.

De Kuyper firmly believes that sustainability is critical to the success of the company and society as a whole. As a family business passed down through generations, De Kuyper is committed to upholding this tradition. The company has demonstrated a strong commitment to social and environmental activities with sustainability projects underway throughout the value chain in areas such as responsible consumption, responsible sourcing, sustainable production, employee well-being, and community involvement. In each of these areas, De Kuyper strives to implement sustainable and innovative solutions and collaborate with partners and stakeholders. ecoSPIRITS aligns perfectly with these ambitions and by establishing this partnership, De Kuyper can promote an innovative closed-loop distribution system that eliminates packaging waste and reduces carbon emissions.

The Netherlands is one of the highest-earning nations of the world and growth expectations for the hospitality industry in 2023 and 2024 are looking positive. The spirits market in the Netherlands is projected to grow by 4.07% resulting in a market volume of US$1.87bn in 2027, according to a report by Statista*. The report also notes that by 2027, 47% of spending and 17% of volume consumption in the spirits market will be attributable to out-of-home consumption in bars and restaurants. ecoTOTEs will initially be deployed to the country’s capital city, Amsterdam and its second largest city, Rotterdam, which has a vibrant and varied nightlife scene.

De Kuyper’s Team Products plant in Middelharnis is well regarded as a ‘best practice’ production location and It is also centrally located to serve the Benelux region. For these reasons, Middelharnis was identified early on as the preferred location for ecoPLANT™ No. 045, which is a 2.0S model for processing spirits. ecoSPIRITS Benelux will initially deploy closed loop service to venues in Amsterdam and Rotterdam from the ecoPLANT based at Middelharnis. De Kuyper’s production site in Middelharnis has recently extended its qualifications to include the BRC 9 AA audit, which is the highest level BRC qualification.

Among the first brands to go into ecoTOTE format from the De Kuyper stable of brands will be Peachtree, which is the best-selling peach liqueur in the world. The lighter, lower-proof liqueur, which has the taste and smell of ripe peaches, is a key ingredient in cocktails such as Sex on the Beach or the Fizzy Peachtree. Also launching soon in ecoTOTE format is Rutte 100% Grain Vodka and Rutte Dutch Dry Gin, which is distilled from 100% organic botanicals including celery and angelica. And completing the launch collection is De Kuyper Triple Sec, which can be mixed with tequila to create the popular Margarita cocktail, or with cognac to create the Sidecar. This Triple Sec is made by mixing several citrus distillates, which are made by De Kuyper in copper pot stills.

Bars, hotels, restaurants, distributors and brands that are interested in joining the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program in the Netherlands can contact Iain McPherson, Sales Director, ecoSPIRITS EMEA, at [email protected], For more information on ecoSPIRITS, you may contact Sonya Hook, Senior PR Manager at [email protected].

About De Kuyper

De Kuyper Royal Distillers is a family-owned liqueur and premium botanical-base spirits company founded in 1695 by Petrus De Kuyper. The company is headquartered in Schiedam near Rotterdam (NL). De Kuyper Liqueurs is the global market-leading brand in cocktail liqueurs. De Kuyper is both the owner and the producer of a number of world-famous liqueurs such as Peachtree, Heering, Kwai Feh, Acqua Bianca, Muyu, Dutch Cacao, Mandarine Napoléon, Bébo and the botanical-based spirits of the Rutte gin and genever. De Kuyper has been awarded “Liqueur Producer of the Year” at the International Spirits Competition (ISC) five years in a row (2019-2023). Mark de Witte is the company’s global CEO.

Media contact for De Kuyper Royal Distillers: Yvonne Naber, Global PR, [email protected].

About ecoSPIRITS

ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 21 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. More than 1,500 leading bars, restaurants, hotels and retailers have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 27 countries worldwide by early 2023. Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers, venues, and retailers, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.

For more information, visit https://ecospirits.global/.

MACAU 18 September 2023 ecoSPIRITS has launched in Macau, appointing one of the region’s most innovative spirits importers, distributors and retailers, Manlek (Overflowtaste) Trading, as its Licensed Operator for the area. Together, the two partners have set up a new joint venture, eS Operator Macau, to bring closed loop service to the Macau market, starting this month. A range of spirits will be available in low waste ecoTOTE™ format immediately, with plans to add more to the portfolio before the end of 2023. eS Macau is ready to supply low waste spirits to upscale bars, restaurants and hotels across the region, which is known for its glitz, glamour and high-end entertainment.

Manlek (Overflowtaste) Trading was founded by a dynamic and youthful team with unique ideas and a passion for high quality hospitality and drinks in the Macau area. One arm of the company is engaged in the importation and distribution of high-end spirits, liqueurs and soft drinks. It has a wide collection of unique drinks in its portfolio as well as the exclusive rights for the representation of several international brands in Macau. The company has also extended its drinks-related expertise into other areas, including retail, represented by its wine and liquor store Overflow, and the organisation of events, such as the popular citywide cocktail event, Bar Hopping Macau. The team is keen to introduce bold innovations into the Macau drinks scene, while also maintaining a commitment to local culture and the sustainable future of the country’s drinks industry.

ecoSPIRITS’ Asia network now covers Mainland China and its Special Administrative Regions (SARs), Hong Kong and Macau, which are relatively autonomous portions of China that maintain some degree of political and economic independence. Macau, on the south coast of China, was a Portuguese territory until 1999 and as such it reflects a mix of cultural influences. With a population of approximately 680,000 it is the most densely populated region in the world. In recent years it has become a major resort city and a top destination for casino visitors. Macau’s gaming industry is the largest in the world, generating a revenue that is about seven times larger than that of Las Vegas.

For several years Macau has been taking steps to address the United Nations General Assembly’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It has been doing this by creating partnerships, seeking to diversify its economy, developing links with the Hengqin island area in particular, and by furthering links with mainland China. Several of Macau’s major casino operators have increased their focus on their ESG and sustainability commitments in recent years, with some pledging to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, as well as a focus on waste diversion, reusable energy and recycling.

eS Operator Macau will initially launch a selection of brands from the True Believers portfolio of spirits including Widges Gin, Tried & True Vodka, Plantation 3 Stars White Rum and Plantation Dark Rum. Towards the end of the year it also plans to add agave spirits and whiskey to its portfolio.

To find out more information about opportunities to partner with ecoSPIRITS in Macau, please contact James Wynn-Williams at [email protected] or Hyeson Si at [email protected]. For media inquiries or general information on ecoSPIRITS, you may contact Sonya Hook, Senior PR Manager at [email protected].

About Manlek (Overflowtaste) Trading

In 2019 Manlek (Overflowtaste) Trading became the first spirits supplier in Macau to support low-carbon waste reduction. We introduce various middle and high-end alcohol and soft drinks brands from all over the world via our main office in Macau, which has been set up to serve the whole Greater China market. Since inception, we have supplied a wide range of quality products to upscale bars, restaurants, hotels and various types of retailer in Macau. Our core objective is to understand the needs of different customers and to constantly innovate in order to serve a diverse customer base, so we also provide services including staff training, bar design and marketing. Our goal is to exceed our customers’ expectations. We strive for excellence in product variety, quality and service in order to reflect our three core values: product diversity, excellent product quality and excellent customer service. In the future, we will expand our business further, continue to provide exciting and rich products, and will continue to optimise our services to meet customers’ expectations in quality and service, and promote Macau culture.

About ecoSPIRITS

ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 21 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. More than 1,500 leading bars, restaurants, hotels and retailers have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 27 countries worldwide by early 2023. Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers, venues, and retailers, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.

For more information visit www.ecospirits.global.

MIAMI 31 August 2023 In a global first, ecoSPIRITS has partnered with Carnival Cruise Line and Bacardi to launch closed loop spirits packaging for cruise ships operating out of the Port of Miami, Florida. The collaboration brings together the world’s leading cruise line operator together with one of the world’s leading spirits producers in an effort to reduce single use glass waste in the all-important tourism and hospitality segment. To support the collaboration, ecoSPIRITS has developed a specialised 4.5L ecoTOTE™ version, the ecoTOTE 3.0SC Cruise Edition, specifically for the maritime environment. The new collaboration will initially run on a pilot basis for three months – starting this month with three Carnival ships – and with the intent to roll out to further ships in late 2023.

This collaboration aims to showcase a more efficient way to deliver spirits to the cruise industry. Carnival Cruise Line is part of the world’s largest cruise ship operator, the Carnival Corporation, and it has a fleet of 25 ships carrying out voyages lasting between two and 31 days. For this collaboration, Carnival’s house pour rum, BACARDÍ® Superior – one of the most-ordered spirits across Carnival’s fleet – will be delivered in ecoTOTE format to three of Carnival’s ships: Celebration, Horizon and Sunrise. Each of these vessels has a capacity of up to 6,338 passengers and 1,450 crew members. The largest is Carnival Celebration, which has 16 dining areas and several bars, including the RedFrog Pub and its sister venue, the RedFrog Rum Bar, where BACARDÍ rums feature prominently.

For Carnival the collaboration with ecoSPIRITS and Bacardi also represents another step towards its ambitious sustainability goals. By 2050 the company aims to ensure near 100% reuse of packaging materials throughout its operations. Carnival already recycles many of its single-use glass items and each ship in the fleet is outfitted with a recycling center, where crew members sort paper, plastic and glass recyclables. Last year, Carnival processed more than 11 million pounds of recyclables. By switching to ecoTOTE format, the Carnival ships will eliminate 95% of the single use packaging waste associated with their house pour rum, dramatically reducing the carbon footprint per spirits serve and saving weight and space onboard. Within this pilot phase, approximately 9,400 bottles will be replaced by the ecoSPIRITS packaging system.

Bacardi Limited is the world’s largest privately-held spirits company with a history dating back more than 160 years. The company has been family-owned for seven generations and its brands are sold in more than 160 markets. Its eponymous rum brand, BACARDÍ – which ranks within in the top ten global spirits brands by value – will be the first to be available in the ecoSPIRITS circular packaging technology onboard cruise ships, marking a milestone in the industry’s transition to circular spirits. The collaboration between Bacardi and ecoSPIRITS will not only dramatically transform the way spirits are transported and stored for cruise ship environments, but it also marks the company’s first deployment with ecoSPIRITS globally and the first time its iconic rum is available in a reusable packaging format.

The partnership with ecoSPIRITS and Carnival comes as Bacardi continues to seek out all opportunities to reduce packaging waste across its portfolio, which includes BACARDÍ Superior rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, PATRÓN® tequila, MARTINI® vermouth and DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky. The company is on track to achieve its target of removing all plastic from its secondary packaging and point of sale materials by the end of 2023, and last year made the pioneering move to remove the plastic pourer from its bottles in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Spain and Portugal.

In preparation for the cruise industry launch, ecoSPIRITS worked with Carnival and Bacardi to develop a new ecoTOTE version that is specially designed for unique demands of the onboard, and on water, environment. The new ecoTOTE 3.0SC features enhanced corrosion resistance through black aluminium anodising, as well as other modifications to improve hygiene and durability in the maritime environment. The ecoTOTE 3.0SC is compliant with the United States Public Health hygiene regulations, which are considered a gold standard in the global cruise industry. This latest ecoTOTE release builds on earlier releases of an ecoTOTE 3.0S 1.75L version for the US domestic market and an ecoTOTE 3.0W 4.5L version designed specifically for wine storage and preservation. The rum will be transferred from ecoTOTE to serving format using ecoSPIRITS’ SmartPour technology. New silver and red BACARDÍ -branded SmartPours will be placed in select bars on the three ships for beverage team members to serve cocktails made with BACARDÍ Superior rum.

The new collaboration with Bacardi and Carnival will also support the ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program. For each cycle of  BACARDÍ^® Superior ecoTOTE delivered to Carnival vessels as part of the pilot, the parties will make a donation to fund the removal of more than two pounds of single use plastic, glass and other man-made wastes removed from endangered marine environments.

For more information about Carnival Cruise Line, you may contact [email protected]. For more information about Bacardi Limited, you may contact Erika Lam, Brand PR Director, BACARDÍ Rum on [email protected]. For more information about ecoSPIRITS you may contact Senior PR Manager, Sonya Hook on [email protected].

About Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & pls (NYSE/LSE: CCL;NYSE: CUK), is the first cruise line to sail over 100 million guests and is proud to be known as America’s Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. For over 50 years, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival operates from 14 U.S. and two Australian homeports and employs more than 40,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Carnival currently operates 25 ships and is in an exciting period of growth with the addition of two ships over the next two years.

For more information visit www.carnival.com and for more about Carnival’s sustainability goals, visit: www.carnivalsustainability.com.

About Bacardi Limited

Bacardi Limited, the world’s largest privately held international spirits company, produces, markets and distributes internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDI® rum, PATRON tequila, 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 Scotch whisky, D’USSE Cognac, ANGEL’S ENVY American straight whiskey, and ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur. Founded more than 161 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs approximately 9,000, operates production facilities in 11 countries and territories, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

Visit www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter. To find out more about Bacardi and its ESG – Environmental, Social & Governance – commitments, including its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, visit www.bacardilimited.com/good-spirited.

About ecoSPIRITS

ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 21 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas, where almost 2,000 leading bars, restaurants, hotels and retailers have adopted the technology. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 27 countries worldwide by late 2023. Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers, venues, and retailers, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.

For more information visit www.ecospirits.global.

About the ecoSPIRITS Ocean Program

The ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program complements the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program for island nations that are most at risk from rising sea levels due to climate change. Highlighted by the striking blue Ocean Conservation Edition ecoTOTE, each order of an ecoTOTE by venue partners in participating islands nations funds the removal of one kilogram of single use plastic, glass and other man-made wastes from endangered, coral reefs and waters. Using Green Steps Group’s proprietary “proof of impact” technology platform, cleanup operations are verified, monitored and reported through an industry-leading digital record. Ocean waste recovery benefits the venue partners, but is jointly funded by ecoSPIRITS and our Climate Partner brands and distributors.

For more information on Green Steps Group, please visit www.greenstepsgroup.com.

SINGAPORE 10 May 2023 ecoSPIRITS has raised USD 10 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round, led by New York-based circular economy investment firm, Closed Loop Partners. Four leading Asian and global institutional investors have also joined the funding round, including food sector private equity investor, Proterra Asia; Pavilion Capital; Convivialité Ventures, the venture arm of global wine and spirits leader, Pernod Ricard; and ecoSPIRITS’ existing venture capital investor, Wavemaker Partners. The Series A proceeds will be used to strengthen ecoSPIRITS’ leadership position in closed loop packaging technologies for spirits and wine and accelerate its research and development program.

Proterra Asia is a private equity fund manager focused on investing in the Asian food sector. Over the past decade Proterra Asia has invested more than USD 1 billion in more than 30 companies that are contributing to the continued development of the food and agri industries across Asia. This investment was made via the Proterra Asia Food Strategy, which seeks to capitalise on the accelerating consumer demand that comes with growing urban populations and the emergence of a new generation of consumers looking for safe, high quality food products with a focus on health, nutrition, convenience, social impact and sustainability.

Singapore-based Pavilion Capital is an active private equity investor across various sectors in Asia and embraces sustainability and ESG principles in its investment activities. Convivialité Ventures is the venture capital arm of the world’s second largest drinks company and leading ecoSPIRITS customer, Pernod Ricard. Through Convivialité Ventures, Pernod Ricard is partnering with and investing in start-ups that are embracing the future of hospitality, in areas such as technology, hospitality and entertainment. The investment comes as Pernod Ricard is in the process of expanding its existing technology partnership with ecoSPIRITS to markets outside of Asia.

Convivialité Ventures’ investment in ecoSPIRITS also marks the launch of a special investment program that will provide an opportunity for ecoSPIRITS’ most important global partners to support closed loop packaging innovation. Over time, the investment program will be open to key partners who are committing to the circular economy transition as part of their own supply chain innovation and sustainability programs. Customer partners participating in the investment program will be subject to confidentiality and other restrictions that guarantee universal access and equal treatment for all users of ecoSPIRITS’ global technology platform.

Existing ecoSPIRITS investor, Wavemaker Partners, will also be participating in the Series A fundraise, building on a seed investment in the company that was completed in late 2020. A leading Southeast Asia venture capital fund, Wavemaker Partners is dedicated to investing in solutions in enterprise, deep tech, sustainability and climate tech

To strengthen its governance, ecoSPIRITS will expand its board of directors with the appointment of Cohen from Closed Loop Partners. In his role at Closed Loop Partners, Cohen co-leads the growth equity investment practice focused on advancing circular solutions in various sectors. Cohen’s appointment to the ecoSPIRITS board follows the appointment of Eric Tan as independent director in November 2022.

More details regarding ecoSPIRITS’ expanded research and development program and the evolution of its Intelligent Circular roadmap will be released in the coming months. For more information about the Series A fundraise, please contact ecoSPIRITS’ Senior PR Manager, Sonya Hook, via email at [email protected].

About Closed Loop Partners

Closed Loop Partners is at the forefront of building the circular economy. The company is comprised of three key business segments: an investment firm, innovation center and operating group. The investment firm invests in venture, growth equity, buyout and catalytic private credit strategies on behalf of global institutions, corporations and family offices. The innovation center, the Center for the Circular Economy, unites competitors and partners to tackle complex material challenges and implement systemic change to advance circularity. The operating group, Circular Services, has twelve recycling facilities in operation today, and provides holistic, circular materials management to close the loop on valuable materials for municipalities and businesses throughout the United States. Employing innovative technology within reuse, recycling, re-manufacturing and re-commerce solutions, Circular Services improves regional economic and environmental outcomes by building resilient systems to keep food & organics, textiles, electronics, packaging and more in circulation and out of landfills or the natural environment. Closed Loop Partners is based in New York City and is a registered B Corp.

For more information please visit www.closedlooppartners.com.

About Proterra Asia

Proterra Asia is a private equity fund manager focused on investing in the Asia food sector. Over the past decade Proterra Asia has invested more than USD 1 billion in more than 30 companies that are contributing to the continued development of the food and agri industries across Asia. This investment was made via the Proterra Asia Food Strategy, which seeks to capitalise on the accelerating consumer demand that comes with growing urban populations and the emergence of a new generation of consumers looking for safe, high quality food products with a focus on health, nutrition, convenience, social impact and sustainability.

For more information please visit: www.proterraasia.com.

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the No.2 worldwide producer of wines and spirit with consolidated sales amounting to €10,701 million in fiscal year FY22. The Group, which owns 17 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive portfolios in the industry with over 240 premium brands distributed across more than 160 markets. Pernod Ricard’s portfolio includes Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur and Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes. The Group’s mission is to unlock the magic of human connections by bringing “Good Times from a Good Place”, in line with its Sustainability and Responsibility roadmap. Pernod Ricard’s decentralized organization empowers its 19,480 employees to be on-the-ground ambassadors of its purposeful and inclusive culture of conviviality, bringing people together in meaningful, sustainable and responsible ways to create value over the long term. Executing its strategic plan, Transform & Accelerate, Pernod Ricard now relies on its “Conviviality Platform”, a new growth model based on data and artificial intelligence to meet the ever-changing demand of consumers. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices.

For more information, please reach out to Emmanuel Vouin, Head of External Engagement: +33 (0) 1 70 93 16 34.

About Convivialité Ventures

Convivialité Ventures is the venture arm of Pernod Ricard. Convivialité Ventures invests in innovative and inspiring companies beyond Pernod Ricard’s traditional wine and spirits offerings in meaningful, sustainable and responsible ways. Our mission is to cultivate radically different products and services that will enhance and change the way people come together, socialize and entertain in the future. Convivialité Ventures operates globally with investments and teams in the US, Europe, Latam, China and India. The portfolio of more than 45 companies includes companies like Fever, Fetch, Avantstay, Summer Farm, Dunzo, Liquid Death, and Outdoorsy.

For more information, please visit www.convivialite-ventures.com or email [email protected].

About Wavemaker Partners

Wavemaker Partners is Southeast Asia’s leading VC firm investing in early-stage enterprise, deep tech, and sustainability start-ups. Since 2012, it has backed 190+ companies with over US 300 million in AUM across four funds and 25 exits valued at over US 1.8 billion. These exits include TradeGecko’s acquisition by Intuit, and Moka’s and Coins.ph’s acquisitions by Gojek. Today, 85% of Wavemaker’s active portfolio start-ups in Southeast Asia are aligned with at least one UNDP Sustainable Development Goal.

For more information about Wavemaker Partners, visit https://wavemaker.vc/ or email [email protected].

About ecoSPIRITS

ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 15 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. More than 1,500 leading bars, restaurants and hotels have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 25 countries worldwide by early 2023. Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers and venues, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating thousands of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.

For information, please visit www.ecospirits.global.

PAMPLEMOUSSES 21 March 2023 ecoSPIRITS has announced plans to launch closed loop service in Mauritius under a Licensed Operator Agreement with Grays Inc, a local spirits and wine producer and importer. Like other ecoSPIRITS island markets around the world, ecoSPIRITS Mauritius will release a fleet of Ocean Conservation edition ecoTOTEs™ and will join the ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program to fund the removal of waste from marine environments. From this month, Grays’ flagship Mauritian rum – Lazy Dodo Rum – will be one of the first spirits available in ecoTOTE format in Mauritius, alongside Seven Seas cane spirit. These will be joined soon after by other spirits participating in the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program.

Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean with a population of more than 1.3 million people. As one of the most developed economies in the African region, Mauritius boasts many contemporary bars, restaurants, and nightclubs as well as a plethora of stylish hotels and hotel bars. Sugar has been the island’s staple product and economic backbone for many centuries, with rum production only allowed to resume in the early 2000s. Using sugarcane juice to make alcohol was banned in Mauritius until 2000, although producers were allowed to use molasses to make rum. The country has now gained a good reputation for both its traditional rum, made from molasses, and Agricole-style rum, where the sugarcane juice is extracted for fermentation and distillation.

Grays is a leading producer, importer, and distributor of wines and spirits in Mauritius. The company set up the island’s first distillery in 1931 and is considered one of the pioneers of the distillation industry in Mauritius. It produces rum from the fermentation of molasses and pure sugarcane juice, and it also manages ageing cellars for its spirits. It distributes rums and other spirits through its local network, and it exports its own products to Europe, USA, Asia, and South Africa. Grays also imports wines from all over the world, including well-known brands such as Möet & Chandon, Veuve Cliquot, Glenfiddich and Jack Daniels, among others.

Closed loop distribution in ecoTOTE format will initially start with Grays’ rum brand: Lazy Dodo Rum, named as a tribute to the now extinct bird, which was indigenous to Mauritius. The other brand which will go into ecoTOTE as part of this first phase is the Mauritian brand Seven Seas cane spirit. For the second phase, later in 2023, these brands will be joined by additional spirits from Grays’ portfolio, including New Grove Rum in two SKUS: Bourbon Cask Aged Rum and Plantation Rum, George Cambridge Blended Scotch Whisky, Kiprinski Vodka, Rover Gin, and Dukes Refined Cane Liquor.

As part of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Mauritius is working on protecting its marine ecosystems in the face of climate change. Like Bermuda, Cayman Islands, and the Seychelles, ecoSPIRITS Mauritius will join the ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program to fund the removal of waste from marine environments. As part of this, Lazy Dodo Rum will be deployed in the Blue Ocean Conservation ecoTOTE, which is used for Island nations. Grays will also host and operate ecoPLANT No. 033, acting as an expert operational partner for closed loop spirits processing for the region.

For more information about ecoSPIRITS Mauritius please contact Iain McPherson, Sales Director for Europe, on [email protected]. Brands, bars, restaurants, and hotels interested in joining the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program in Mauritius may contact [email protected]. For media enquiries about ecoSPIRITS, you may contact Senior PR Manager, Sonya Hook on [email protected].

About Grays

Since 1931, Grays has forged itself the reputation of being a reliable producer and marketer of the best wines, spirits, and liqueurs in Mauritius. Our wines are imported from the best cellars in the world including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and other varieties, offering a great selection of wines from around the world; France, Chile, Italy, South Africa, Argentina, Spain, New Zealand and more. Additionally, we are proud to market rums through our local distribution network, giving our customers the taste of the local know-how, and export our products to Asia, Europe and USA.

For more information on Grays, please visit www.grays.mu

About ecoSPIRITS

ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 15 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Americas. More than 1,500 leading bars, restaurants, hotels, and retailers have adopted the technology. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 25 countries by early 2023. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.

For information, please visit www.ecospirits.global

About the ecoSPIRITS Ocean Program

The ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program complements the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program for island nations that are most at risk from rising sea levels due to climate change. Highlighted by the striking blue Ocean Conservation Edition ecoTOTE, each order of an ecoTOTE by venue partners in participating island nations funds the removal of one kilogram of single use plastic, glass and other man-made wastes from endangered, coral reefs and waters. Using Green Steps Group’s proprietary “proof of impact” technology platform, cleanup operations are verified, monitored and reported through an industry-leading digital record. Ocean waste recovery benefits the venue partners but is jointly funded by ecoSPIRITS and our Climate Partner brands and distributors.

For more information on Green Steps Group, please visit www.greenstepsgroup.com

SINGAPORE 16 March 2023 ecoSPIRITS has launched a second–generation portfolio of its SmartPour™ technology, offering enhanced capabilities, intelligent features and new design elements. The revamped SmartPour lineup now comprises the SmartPour 1.1S and the SmartPour 2.0S, for the company’s spirits brand partners; and, for the first time, a SmartPour dedicated to wine preservation and dispensing, the SmartPour 2.0W. With this latest release, SmartPours are now available to pair with both the 4.5L and 1.75L versions of the ecoTOTE™. Each of the second generation SmartPours is powered by CircularONE™, ecoSPIRITS’ cloud-based software platform that is central to its ambitious Intelligent Circular™ roadmap.

The SmartPour is ecoSPIRITS’ proprietary electronic dispense unit, designed for the safe and hygienic transfer of spirits or wine from ecoTOTE to reusable glass bottles or directly to serving glassware. The first generation SmartPour was first released in November 2020 to give hospitality outlets the option to dispense a variety of accurate spirits measures, which can be pre-programmed to suit the needs of the venue and the local market. The latest generation of patent-pending SmartPour hardware has been enhanced by the CircularONE software platform, with a range of security, data and IoT features, allowing ecoSPIRITS to collect and send performance and supply chain data to and from each partner company. This includes accurate depletion data, as well as cloud-based location tracking for the global ecoTOTE fleet, whereby each individual ecoTOTE is tracked through its entire lifecycle of closed loop operations, including in the venue, when it is linked to a SmartPour for dispense. This all forms part of the ecoSPIRITS Intelligent Circular vision, which is powered by CircularONE, and will eventually offer the comprehensive integration of hardware and software to make circular much more robust, scalable and cost-effective.

The new generation of SmartPours are available as standard Forest Green or Oceans Blue options or they can be developed with partner spirits and wine brands as a fully co-branded design. These can be showcased by venues, giving both the technology and branding high visibility to consumers. Co-branded SmartPours have already been deployed by several of ecoSPIRITS’ global customers, including Diageo, which now has co-branded Smirnoff Vodka SmartPour 2.0S’ in venues in Indonesia; and Pernod Ricard, which has co-branded Beefeater Gin, Havana Club and Absolut Vodka SmartPour 2.0S’ available for the Singapore market. Both companies are looking at expanding their footprints to cover additional regions. Meanwhile, in the UK, Remy Cointreau now has co-branded hardware for its Cointreau and Mount Gay rum brands. ecoSPIRITS adapted the SmartPour 2.0S Cointreau Edition to ensure the perfect dispense of Cointreau, because liqueurs behave differently to higher proof spirits. In addition, the True Believers brand, Los Arcos Destilado de Agave, saw its UK debut this month, sporting co-branded SmartPour 2.0S units. ecoSPIRITS is also preparing to launch co-branded versions of the SmartPour 2.0W in Australia with industry leader Accolade Wines, featuring one or more of their eco wine brands.

ecoSPIRITS has submitted patent applications for its latest SmartPour technologies and its Verified Sustainable Refill feature. These join existing patent applications in its system of closed loop technologies, including the ecoSPIRITS’ third–generation ecoTOTE 3.0, and the SmartKiosk™, which was launched in September last year. The latest generation of SmartPour hardware uses dual-frequency IoT module so it is capable of connecting to two different wireless frequencies: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. They also have programmable dispense volume buttons, enabling venues to set their own range of push pour options for the easy transfer of accurate measures of spirits or wine from the ecoTOTE. Additional smart features will be developed for the SmartPour portfolio over time. For media enquiries or general information about ecoSPIRITS, you may contact Sonya Hook, Senior PR Manager, at [email protected].

About ecoSPIRITS

ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 15 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. More than 1,500 leading bars, restaurants, hotels and retailers have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 25 countries worldwide by mid 2023. Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers, venues and retailers, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.

For information, please visit www.ecospirits.global