Pernod Ricard and ecoSPIRITS Deepen Partnership for Circularity in Spirits, and Announce Cuba Launch

LONDON 29 May 2024 Pernod Ricard and ecoSPIRITS have announced a five-year global agreement to enable the distribution of Pernod Ricard’s spirits brands in ecoSPIRITS’ circular packaging technology to on-trade venues around the world. The collaboration builds on the success of a pilot project in Singapore in late 2022, which saw the launch of three Pernod Ricard brands in select bars across the city state. As part of this deepening partnership to promote circularity in the spirits industry, Pernod Ricard and ecoSPIRITS have also been investing in developing shared knowledge and capabilities in circular packaging operations and circular packaging impact accounting and reporting. Under the new global agreement, ecoSPIRITS has expanded its customer success team to support Pernod Ricard and in January the two companies deployed a full ecoSPIRITS closed loop packaging system at the Havana Club distillery in San José de las Lajas, Cuba, to begin reducing single use glass packaging in the Cuban market.

As part of the original pilot project in Singapore, three of Pernod Ricard’s spirits brands – Beefeater London Dry gin, Havana Club rum and Absolut vodka – have been successfully deployed in ecoTOTE™ format to bars across Singapore, and dispensed in venues using co-branded SmartPour™ technology. These three spirit brands will now be introduced to new markets under the new global agreement, with additional Pernod Ricard brands to be added over time. Pernod Ricard’s partnership with ecoSPIRITS is aligned with the producer’s Sustainability & Responsibility roadmap, which includes a pillar of ‘Circular Making’, encouraging circularity by developing more sustainable packaging solutions.

Since late 2020, Pernod Ricard and ecoSPIRITS have been collaborating to evaluate, refine and pioneer circular packaging for the spirits industry. As part of this collaboration, the parties have invested in developing capabilities and expertise in the complex transition from linear to circular packaging systems. Most recently, a joint ecoSPIRITS and Pernod Ricard global technical team has worked to develop global operations standards for closed loop systems, with a goal of enhancing the safety, security and scalability of circular packaging. The two companies also recently appointed leading French circular economy consulting firm, Circul’R, to conduct an independent validation and upgrade of the ecoSPIRITS Carbon Calculator. This work by Circul’R enables the tracking and reporting of the positive carbon emissions impact of the ecoSPIRITS technology, in line with rapidly evolving standards on carbon accounting and environmental claims.

The first local market deployment under the new global agreement is already underway with the introduction of a closed loop system for Havana Club rum in the brand’s home market of Cuba. The new system has been anchored by a dedicated ecoPLANT at Havana Club’s distillery in San José de las Lajas, Cuba. The ecoPLANT 2.0S is one of three ecoPLANTs in the Caribbean region, along with one in George Town, Cayman Islands and another in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. Cuba’s first ecoPLANT is run by Havana Club distillery staff, who have been supported and trained by ecoSPIRITS’ Circular Operations team.

Iberostar Group, a leading Spanish hotel operator with more than 120 hotels around the world, was the launch partner for the Cuba market. Two of the group’s luxury properties – Costa Varadero and Bella Vista Varadero – became the first hotels in Cuba to take spirits in closed loop packaging, taking delivery of Havana Club Añejo 3 Años rum in ecoTOTE format from January 2024 and pioneering the ecoSPIRITS technology in Cuba. The two properties are located in the vicinity of the country’s renowned Varadero beach, with each home to at least 10 restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

In April 2024 Pernod Ricard’s venture capital fund, Convivialite Ventures, invested in ecoSPIRITS as part of a $10 million Series A funding round. More details of the two companies’ collaboration plans, including initial market launches, will be announced later in 2024. For media enquiries and general information please contact Emmanuel Vouin, Head of External Engagement on +33 (0) 1709 31624 or Jessica Whyte, International Media Relations Manager on +33 (0) 6769 37373 and Sonya Hook, Head of Communications at [email protected].

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is a worldwide leader in the spirits and wine industry, blending traditional craftsmanship, state-of-the-art brand-building, and global distribution technologies. Our prestigious portfolio of premium to luxury brands 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, Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagnes. Our mission is to ensure the long-term development of our brands with full respect for people and the environment, while empowering our employees around the world to be ambassadors of our purposeful, inclusive, and responsible culture of authentic convivialité. Pernod Ricard’s consolidated sales amounted to €12,137 million in fiscal year FY23. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices.

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 a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 27 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. Nearly 3,000 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 further by the end of 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.

Visit www.ecospirits.global and follow us on Instagram for more.