Rosewood Hong Kong Partners With ecoSPIRITS, Reducing Single Use Waste Through Climate Friendly Cocktails

HONG KONG 15 September 2021 Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is deepening its commitment to sustainability through a partnership with ecoSPIRITS that will reduce single use glass, starting with their flagship property in Hong Kong. This collaboration will see the ecoSPIRITS low carbon, low waste technology used in the property’s eight bars and restaurants and celebrated in a special menu of ecoCOCKTAILS that will be available throughout the landmark hotel.

Soaring over Victoria Harbour, Rosewood Hong Kong is a highlight of the Kowloon waterfront and the crown jewel of the Victoria Dockside arts and design district. The hotel embraces a sustainability ethos through Rosewood’s Verdes® Responsibilities, which commits to elevated hospitality without compromising the natural environment. The ecoSPIRITS technology, with its elimination of single use glass and dramatic reduction in carbon footprint of spirits, is a natural fit.

Rosewood Hong Kong. Unparalleled comfort and distinctive hospitality.

Rosewood Hong Kong’s beverage programs, including its acclaimed Darkside Bar, are led by Director of Bars, Arkadiusz Rybak, an award-winning bartender and manager who brings to the team extensive experience working in Conde Nast’s ‘Hot List’ hotels and in Michelin-starred restaurants in London and Hong Kong. His talented team at Rosewood Hong Kong include Francois Cavelier, Bar Manager and Simon Rossi, Beverage Manager at the Darkside Bar.

To bring the hotel’s beverage sustainability principles to life, and to celebrate the partnership with ecoSPIRITS, Arkadiusz and his team developed a range of special low waste cocktails, including the signature Eco Negroni. A special ecoCOCKTAILS Menu, printed on sustainable compostable paper which is embedded with tree seeds, is now available throughout the hotel. Guests can take the menu home and plant it in soil — as the paper composts away, all that is left behind is new life and zero waste.

The making of a climate friendly cocktail with Widges Gin and Tried & True Vodka

A fresh take on the White Negroni, which is traditionally made with gin, dry vermouth, and gentian liqueur, this sustainable serve is made with a base of Widges London Dry Gin that is delivered in ecoTOTE™ format, Mancino Bianco Vermouth, and two house-made infusions to take the place of gentian liqueur, each made with upcycled ingredients that might otherwise have been thrown away. A sophisticated and herbaceous tipple is garnished with a green lime gel made with oxidized lime juice that is stabilized with natural and alternative preservatives to give second life to juice that would otherwise go down the drain.

Arkadiusz Rybak, Director of Bars, Rosewood Hong Kong

“By using the ecoSPIRITS at Rosewood Hong Kong we are able to reduce our glass bottle waste tremendously. Not only do we minimize waste, but we also reduce the amount of storage required for spirits. In addition, we give back through ecoSPIRITS Forest Program initiative. Overall, ecoSPIRITS allows us to seamlessly operate at a high-volume beverage program and care for our environment.”

In addition to significantly reducing their glass and packaging waste with ecoSPIRITS, the Eco Negroni is prepared without ice. To conserve this resource-intensive ingredient, the cocktail is batched and bottled in the back-of-house and kept chilled for service. Overall, the Eco Negroni eliminates 30g of C02 emissions per serve by reducing single use glass waste.

The Eco Negroni. No single use glass

Darkside Bar at Rosewood Hong Kong. One of Asia's 50 Best Bars

Clear Bitter, a Sustainable Gentiane Substitute

Low waste, housemade infusions to take the place of gentian liqueur, a traditional aperitif that originates from the French Alps. To recreate the wintery backbone of gentian liqueur, the Rosewood Hong Kong beverage team creates an infusion called Clear Bitter, made with leftover lemon peels, dandelion, and gentian root mixed with Tried & True Vodka delivered in ecoTOTE™ format. To balance and brighten the Clear Bitter infusion, the team makes a citrus infusion from leftover lemon peels, coriander seeds, and buddha hand leaves that is also infused in Tried & True Vodka. Together, the Clear Bitter and Lemon Buddha’s Hand Liqueur take the place of gentian liqueur and create substantial carbon savings!

Reclaimed ingredients. Craftsmanship. Less waste

Beyond the Eco Negroni, Arkadiusz and his team are using the ecoSPIRITS technology across the property’s bars and restaurants to further reduce waste and beverage costs. The partnership between ecoSPIRITS and Rosewood Hong Kong is eliminating thousands of single use glass bottles per year, reducing Hong Kong’s landfill waste and saving 550g of carbon emissions per bottle eliminated.

To further supplement this impact, ecoSPIRITS, its spirits partners and Rosewood Hong Kong are planting one tree for every ecoTOTE™ ordered by the hotel in the endangered Kalimantan rainforest in Borneo, Indonesia. This reforestation commitment increases the sustainability impact per serve, including for the Eco Negroni, to 150g per cocktail. Rosewood Hong Kong’s Borneo reforestation and C02 impact is made available to hotel guests through the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program’s unique ‘proof of planting’ digital interface.

Through this partnership, and the exquisite cocktails, Rosewood Hong Kong and ecoSPIRITS hope to inspire others to incorporate sustainable principles into their beverage and hospitality. Elevated beverage experiences without compromising the natural environment are now possible.


About Rosewood Hong Kong

Soaring over Victoria Harbour, Rosewood Hong Kong is a new centre of gravity on the Kowloon waterfront — the crown jewel of the Victoria Dockside arts and design district. On passing the gate and traversing the cobblestoned drive, the urban din falls away, revealing lush topiary and a serene forecourt that commands the harbour. A warm welcome heralds a stay of unparalleled comfort and distinctive hospitality at the Hong Kong luxury hotel.

For more information, visit: https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/ or follow @rosewoodhongkong on Instagram.



ecoSPIRITS to Launch in Cambodia, Partnering With Craft Spirits Distributor & Leading Local Distillery

PHNOM PENH 30 AUGUST 2021 ecoSPIRITS announced today that it has signed a Licensed Operator Agreement for Cambodia with a new joint venture company, eS Operator Cambodia, formed by Moonshine Cambodia, a leading local craft spirits importer and distributor, and Samai Distillery in Phnom Penh, one of Southeast Asia’s leading craft distilleries. Starting in December 2021, the new Licensed Operator partnership will bring low-waste spirits service to a market that is a vibrant tourist destination with rich culture and history as it begin to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Home to just over 16 million people, Cambodia is a Southeast Asian market renowned for its lush landscapes and historical and cultural sites. Spanning the Mekong Delta, low-lying coastal plains, rainforest-clad mountains and the Gulf of Thailand coastline, Cambodia has developed rapidly in recent years as a popular destination for luxury and ecotourism. As a result, premium spirits, waste reduction and sustainable innovation are a natural fit for many of the country’s leading hospitality operators. In recent years, the national government has also taken meaningful steps to fight climate change, including committing to 2030 carbon emissions reductions targets under the United Nations framework and to developing a national strategy for a longer-term journey to Net Zero.

Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Phnom Penh Skyline

PREI Cocktail Bar, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Founded in 2020 in Phnom Penh, Moonshine Cambodia is a craft spirits distributor established by Liza Kao and Stephen Hansen out of a love for quality spirits and cocktails. Moonshine Cambodia is the exclusive importer and distributor of a range of leading premium and craft spirits, including Plantation Rum, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Chartreuse, Aviation Gin, and Michter’s American Whiskeys. Moonshine Cambodia also owns and operates PREI cocktail bar in Phnom Penh, which pays homage to the Cardamom rainforests that are the climate lungs of Southeast Asia.

Liza Kao, Co-Founder & CEO, Moonshine Spirits

“During our time in the hospitality industry, we’ve seen a need more than ever to implement conscious approaches in the industry and support those who want to maximize their impact on sustainable tourism,” notes Kao, CEO and Co-Founder of Moonshine Cambodia, “It made sense for us to team up with ecoSPIRITS to prioritize the circular economy principles in Cambodia, and slowly reduce single-use bottles while making premium spirits more cost effective for hospitality operators. We are proud of Cambodia’s rich heritage and strive to be as aware as a company as we can be for our local community.”

Cambodia’s first and only premium rum distillery, Samai Distillery, was founded in 2014 in Phnom Penh and is regarded as one of Southeast Asia’s pioneering craft distilleries. As Cambodia’s first and only premium rum producer, the Samai team produce hand-crafted, premium rums using high-quality, locally grown ingredients and a process that pays tribute to age-old rum making traditions. Complex and full of character, Samai rums reflect the unique Cambodian terroir. Under the new ecoSPIRITS Licensed Operator partnership, Samai Distillery will host and operate ecoPLANT No. 025 in Phnom Penh, offering the advantages of an expert distillery team in processing ecoTOTE™ formats for the Cambodian market.

The Samai Distillery in Phnom Penh

Handcrafted rums made with local Cambodian sugarcane

Daniel Pacheco, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Samai Distillery

“Sustainability in the alcohol industry is long-overdue, but it has proven a challenge for individual brands to tackle alone,” notes Daniel Pacheco, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Samai Distillery, “ecoSPIRITS is revolutionizing the industry by giving spirits producers, like Samai, a fully developed solution which reduces waste, lowers our need for packaging inventory, reducing carbon emissions from shipping all this inventory across the globe, all while making the final product more affordable to the end consumer… a win for everyone. At Samai, we are proud to be the distillery partner bringing ecoSPIRITS to Cambodia. We hope this will inspire many other initiatives across the country, and across industries, helping Cambodia grow and lead the way in sustainability and the circular economy.”

In a market where leading bars, restaurants and hotels serve ever more eco-conscious guests, news of ecoSPIRITS’ Cambodia launch has received a warm reception. Some of the country’s most prominent venues will join the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner program and prioritise spirits in ecoTOTE™ as soon as closed loop service commences.

Paul Gabie, CEO, ecoSPIRITS

“Climate change is a global crisis that will leave no country unscathed. Like many developing markets, Cambodia is only just beginning to formulate its climate battle plan,” notes Paul Gabie, ecoSPIRITS CEO, “The ecoSPIRITS vision was created with both developed and developing markets in mind. Partnering with industry pioneers like Samai Distillery and Moonshine Cambodia to bring waste and carbon emissions reduction technology to one of Southeast Asia’s most important developing economies shows just how universal the movement to fight climate change is becoming.”

ecoSPIRITS closed loop service will be available in Cambodia from December 2021. Bars, restaurants, hotels, distributors and brands that are interested in joining the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program in Cambodia can get in touch via email at [email protected] or [email protected].


About Moonshine Cambodia

Moonshine was established in 2020 out of a love for quality, craft spirits and bringing cocktail culture to Cambodia. Co-founders Liza Kao and Stephen Hansen brought their knowledge in the hospitality industry from Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City back home to a burgeoning Phnom Penh. Moonshine’s growing exclusive distribution and consulting services currently supports most cocktail bars, retail establishments and hotels in Siem Reap & Phnom Penh areas.

For more information, please visit www.moonshine.asia and www.preiphnompenh.com


About Samai Distillery

Samai Distillery was founded in 2014 in Phnom Penh and is regarded as one of Southeast Asia’s pioneering craft distilleries. As Cambodia’s first and only premium rum producer, the Samai team produce hand-crafted, premium rums using high-quality, locally grown ingredients and a process that pays tribute to age-old rum making traditions. Complex and full of character, Samai rums reflect the unique Cambodian terroir. With four premium products in its portfolio, Samai rums are distributed in France, Singapore, Spain, Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Korea, with more countries to come. If you happen to be in Cambodia, don’t miss a chance to try the rums and exclusive cocktails at the bar inside the distillery, or book your private tour.

For more information visit www.samaidistillery.com



ecoSPIRITS to Launch in Norway With Spirited Animals Group, Marking its Entry into Scandinavia

OSLO 24 AUGUST 2021 ecoSPIRITS announced today that it has signed a Licensed Operator Agreement with Spirited Animals Group, a partnership which will launch closed loop spirits service in Norway in November 2021. ecoPLANT No. 022 will be sited in Oslo, bringing low-carbon, low-waste spirits to a country long known for its forward-thinking approach to sustainability and the environment.

Part of the Nordic Region, Norway is a highly developed economy and spirits market. Home to 5.4 million people, it is well known for mountains, glaciers and deep coastal fjords. The capital, Oslo, is a city of museums, green parks and a vibrant food and beverage scene. In recent years, Norway has joined the world cocktail community, with Oslo’s Himkok, listed regularly amongst the World’s 50 Best Bars, just one of numerous acclaimed venues. Rated as the world’s most sustainable country in 2020, Norway has made a national commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.

Nærøyfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Norway

Karl Johans Gate on Oslo's Main Street, Norway

The award-winning Himkok Bar, Oslo, Norway

Spirited Animals Group is a creative hospitality company working in beverage consulting, venue development, and distribution based in Oslo. Founded by Chris Grøtvedt and Barney Blichfeldt, the team has a strategy of working with leading brands and initiatives from around the world to help move Norway’s hospitality market towards the future.  Grøtvedt has been a leading figure in the Norwegian hospitality industry for years, having brought THE THIEF five-star hotel onto the international cocktail map, launched Oslo Bar Show (now Norse Bar Show) in 2015 and through his work as the creative partner at *ISM Oslo. Blichfeldt has been a rising star in the import and distribution side of the industry in recent years. With a background in spirits and wine sales and import, as well as work as a beverage director, Blichfeldt brings extensive commercial and operational experience to the venture. With a creative mindset and entrepreneurial spirit, Spirited Animals Group are aiming to help put the Nordics on the international hospitality map.

Chris Grøtvedt, Director of Operations, Spirited Animals Group

“Oslo has pledged to cut carbon emissions by 95% by 2030. However, recycling is only 50% effective in reducing C02 emissions associated with glass use – and we are already recycling around 95% of glass here in Norway. We must change our strategy to reach our goals as a country. A new way of thinking is the only way forward. This is why ecoSPIRITS is so revolutionary for the hospitality industry. We can end single use glass through circular economy principles and a closed loop system. The circular economy is the future. And we are proud to be part of that future.”

Barney Blichfeldt, Commercial Director, Spirited Animals Group

“Coming from import & distribution I constantly monitor trends and sales. I see, every day, how much single use glass is distributed, and wasted, even in a small country like Norway. By applying circular economy principles ecoSPIRITS is drastically reducing carbon emissions, offering a much more sustainable route to market for brands and producers. Whilst bringing hospitality teams and the consumer on board by giving them an option to serve and drink in a greener way. We are excited to be the first ecoSPIRITS partner in Scandinavia and to launch this cutting-edge technology to our home market.”

Under this latest ecoSPIRITS Licensed Operator partnership, the world’s 22nd ecoPLANT will be commissioned in Oslo starting in late October with onsite support from the ecoSPIRITS engineering team. ecoSPIRITS closed loop service will be available in Norway from late November, starting with bars, restaurants and hotels in Oslo. Over the first half of 2022, Spirited Animals Group plans to expand ecoTOTE™ deliveries nationwide and to offer open access to the system to a growing list of brands and distributors under the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program. Norway will also participate in the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program, planting one tree for every ecoTOTEdelivered to hospitality venues.

As seen in other markets around the world, the early feedback from local bars, restaurants and hotels on ecoSPIRITS’ arrival in Norway has been overwhelmingly positive.

Slavomir Kytka, Bar Manager, Amerikalinjen

“At Amerikalinjen, we care about history, but also the future. As a venue, we feel it is very important to do our small part to help fight climate change. One way is to cut our carbon emissions footprint and eliminate single use waste wherever possible. Ordering our spirits in ecoTOTE™ format is a revolutionary way to do so.”

Marek Novak, Bar Manager, Kranen Bar, Edvard Munch Museum

Kranen Bar, Edvard Munch Museum, Oslo, Norway

“We feel ecoSPIRITS is a bright example of how the bar industry keeps evolving by becoming more and more mindful of our contribution to environmental pollution. ecoSPIRITS is a natural fit for high volume venues. Their SmartPour technology makes in-house bottled cocktails and pre-batching easier as well. I have been following this project since their launch in Singapore in 2018 and I am extremely excited to be one of the pioneer users in Scandinavia. We will spread the word from Kranen Bar at the Edvard Munch Museum in Oslo!”

Zdenek Kastanek, International Sales Director, ecoSPIRITS

“The ecoSPIRITS Licensed Operator Program is a worldwide network of experienced hospitality entrepreneurs and investors who own and operate ecoSPIRITS closed loop service in individual territories. Barney and Chris fit this mould perfectly with Spirited Animals Group. They are prime examples of the up-and-coming innovators who dare to think differently and, as a result, are driving the change in our industry and the planet so desperately need. The future is more hopeful in a world where teams like Spirited Animals Group are hard at work.”

ecoSPIRITS closed loop service will be available in Norway from November 2021. Bars, restaurants, hotels, distributors and brands that are interested in joining the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program in Norway can get in touch via email [email protected] or ecospirits@spiritedanimals.no


About Spirited Animals Group

Founded in Oslo in 2021, Spirited Animals Group is a creative company within the hospitality industry. They focus on creative work through consultancy, management and projects through hotels, bars and restaurants all over the Nordics. Launched in 2021, they have already put themselves on the map by signing consultancy and partnership contracts with places such as the five-star Hotel Continental in Oslo Kansai Group in Stockholm and have already completed a restaurant opening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia earlier this year. ecoSPIRITS is the latest addition to their growing portfolio of projects.

For more information, please visit www.spiritedanimals.no



ecoSPIRITS to Launch in Bermuda, Calls Attention to C02 Emissions & Rising Sea Levels

Hamilton 27 JULY 2021 ecoSPIRITS announced today that it has signed a Licensed Operator Agreement with Bermuda Gin Co., which will bring circular spirits technology to a small island nation for the first time. As part of the new partnership, Bermuda Gin Co.’s Pink House Gin and White Roof Gin will join the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program and become available across Bermuda in ecoTOTE™ format. ecoSPIRITS will also release a special Ocean Conservation edition ecoTOTE™
to call attention to the impact C02 emissions are having on sea levels, and the severe threat this poses to life in island nations worldwide.

Bermuda is a collection of 181 islands located more than 1,000 kilometres off the east coast of the United States in the North Atlantic Ocean. Home to a population of just over 60,000, the island is a vibrant tourist destination and a major insurance and reinsurance hub, famous for its pink sand beaches and clear, cerulean blue ocean waters. Like other island nations, Bermuda is threatened by rising sea levels, which are one of the most severe impacts of climate change. The island has a long and successful history with conservation efforts, dating back to a 1623 law passed to protect the local turtle population.

Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda, is home to both local and international businesses and is a vibrant hospitality centre

The islands of Bermuda provide fertile shelter to important turtle populations, including five of the world’s seven sea turtle species

Founded in Bermuda in 2019 by long-time insurance executive and gin lover, Roy Fellowes, Bermuda Gin Co. is a family-owned and operated producer on a mission to put Bermuda on the world gin map by producing locally inspired gins to capture the spirit and uniqueness of Bermuda itself. The gin recipes were created around the kitchen table in Paget, Bermuda by Roy, his wife Susan and daughter Kristyn and are inspired by island life. Each gin features botanicals common to Bermuda, such as hibiscus and prickly pear.

A tribute to Bermuda’s famous pastel pink cottages, Pink House Gin is a distilled gin with hibiscus, mint and blood orange

A tribute to Bermuda’s rain-catching white roofs, White Roof Gin is a London Dry with prickly pear, citrus and cinnamon

Under the new partnership with ecoSPIRITS, Bermuda Gin Co. will take delivery of ecoPLANT No. 026, which will be sited in Bermuda and offer closed loop service from October 2021. Under the ecoSPIRITS Licensed Operator Program, ecoSPIRITS service will be made available to bars, restaurants and hotels across the Island as well as other spirits brands, distributors, and wholesalers who are active in the Bermuda market and wish to join the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program.

Roy Fellowes, Founder of Bermuda Gin Co.

“As the world’s largest property catastrophe reinsurance market, Bermuda knows more than most countries about sustainability and climate risk. At Bermuda Gin Co. we want to do our part in protecting the local environment and we have identified a tried and tested technology that will significantly reduce waste and carbon emissions in the local spirits drinks industry,” notes Fellowes, “We are delighted to introduce the ecoSPIRITS closed loop technology to Bermuda. I have no doubt ecoSPIRITS’ mission to eliminate single use glass bottles will resonate with local businesses and consumers. Working together, we will eliminate single use glass one very tasty Bermuda Gin & Tonic at a time.”

The grand pastel-pink Hamilton Princess has been a landmark on the waterfront of Bermuda's capital city since 1885

Timothy Morrison, General Manager, Hamilton Princess & Beach Club

“This is a revolutionary move in the right direction for our industry. One of the key goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change is that carbon emissions should be reduced as soon as possible. ecoSPIRITS provides a unique and sustainable way for the hospitality and service industry to do its part,” says Morrison, “Living on the beautiful island of Bermuda, with its wonderful and all important ecosystem, shows proudly as to why this is so important. Hamilton Princess & Beach Club is proud to lead the way and partner with Bermuda Gin Co. in bringing this technology to Bermuda.”

To coincide with the launch of closed loop service in Bermuda, ecoSPIRITS will release a special limited edition ecoTOTE™ calling attention to the dire threat climate change poses to low-lying islands. The ecoTOTE 3.0S Ocean Conservation Edition, with an ocean blue enclosure, will be available only in island nations around the world.

The ecoTOTE 3.0S Ocean Conservation Edition

As a complement to the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program, each Ocean Conservation Edition ecoTOTE™ will support a new ocean waste recovery program managed by Green Steps Group, ecoSPIRITS’ global C02 mitigation partners. Under this new ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program, each order of an Ocean Conservation Edition ecoTOTE™ by venue partners will fund the removal of one kilogram of single use plastic, glass and other man-made waste from protected beaches, coral reefs and waters.

Worldwide, ocean waste is a direct outcome of a single use packaging culture

Under the ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program, Green Steps Group will use its proprietary technology interface to mobilise, monitor and quantify ocean waste removal from protected marine areas. Recovered ocean waste will be photographed, weighed and logged on the technology platform, providing certified impact and improving marine and beach environments for locals and tourists alike.

Green Steps Group's proprietary digital interface will power the ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program

Zdenek Kastanek, International Sales Director, ecoSPIRITS

“ecoSPIRITS has long been mindful of the special impact that single use packaging and the associated carbon emissions are having on island nations. As we begin to add island markets to the ecoSPIRITS global network, ecoSPIRITS will work alongside our Licensed Operators like Bermuda Gin Co. to have a positive impact by reducing local packaging waste and restoring marine environments,” says Kastanek, “We will also use our voice in the industry to call attention to the impact that single use glass packaging in larger markets is having on these fragile island ecosystems.”

ecoSPIRITS closed loop service will be available in Bermuda from October 2021. Bars, restaurants, hotels, distributors and brands that are interested in joining the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program in Bermuda can get in touch via email at ecoSPIRITS Bermuda or Bermuda Gin Co.


About Bermuda Gin Co.

Bermuda Gin Co. is a local, family-owned business established in October 2019. The first product Pink House Gin was launched in November 2019 with White Roof Gin hitting the local market in June 2020. Both gins are hand crafted in small batches and they have been very well received locally. They are available in bars, restaurants and hotels throughout Bermuda. The amazing bar staff working in Bermuda’s hospitality venues have created some wonderful cocktails using Pink House and White Roof Gins that are definitely worth trying. The gins are also available for retail purchase from many supermarkets and liquor stores on the Island. For Pink House and White Roof, today Bermuda, tomorrow the world.

For more information, please visit Bermuda Gin Co.



ecoSPIRITS Launches Licensed Operator Program, Starting with the United Kingdom

SINGAPORE 21 DECEMBER 2020 Building on its success across Asia Pacific over the past 18 months, ecoSPIRITS has announced a global licensed operator program, which will bring its closed loop spirits distribution technology to new markets worldwide. The first market under this new program will be the United Kingdom, where ecoSPIRITS has partnered with the team behind premium spirits importer and distributor Mangrove UK. The new partnership will bring closed loop spirits distribution to London in April 2021, with additional cities to follow over the course of the year.

ecoSPIRITS’ patent-pending system of closed loop technologies offers both a substantial reduction in the delivered cost of premium spirits, and a transformative reduction in waste and C02 footprint. As one of the world’s most mature markets for premium spirits, the United Kingdom is a natural fit for this cost reduction advantage. The ecoSPIRITS circular solution to eliminating single use glass waste is also in sync with United Kingdom consumers, who are increasingly transitioning to sustainable consumption and purchasing choices.

Under the new Licensed Operator program, experienced local spirits industry partners invest in the ecoSPIRITS hardware and technologies, including the ecoPLANT™, ecoTOTE™ and SmartPour™ systems. They receive the rights to operate the ecoSPIRITS closed loop technology in a market, with comprehensive technology, engineering and product support from the ecoSPIRITS team. In return, Licensed Operators commit to offering closed loop service to other industry participants, including premium spirits brands, distributors and wholesalers who are looking to improve their cost and environmental performance.

Zdenek Kastanek, International Sales Director, ecoSPIRITS

“Since launching in Asia Pacific in late 2018, ecoSPIRITS has received inquiries from countries around the world about the prospect of closed loop service,” notes Zdenek Kastanek, ecoSPIRITS International Sales Director, “The ecoSPIRITS Licensed Operator program makes this prospect a reality. Together with our local partners, such as the wonderful team behind Mangrove UK, we can scale our climate impact many times over. From a personal perspective, I am excited to have this opportunity to reconnect with so many industry friends and relationships that I developed during my years working in hospitality in London.” 

Nick Gillett, Managing Director, Mangrove UK

Nick Gillett, Managing Director, Mangrove UK, added,“I have tracked the progress of ecoSPIRITS in Asia since its launch, and firmly believe their technology offers a sustainable blueprint for the UK drinks industry to follow. A number of brands in our portfolio have sustainability, environmental and Fairtrade principles at their core, and ecoSPIRITS offers us a very natural next step. The on-trade community is a driving force for change – campaigning against plastic straws, ill treatment of workers in production, treatment of waste water. ecoSPIRITS offers the potential to remove single glass from a large portion of the UK trade, in addition to commercial and logistical advantages, and deliver greater long term sustainable benefits. We are all experiencing a seismic change in the industry and revaluating everything we have previously believed in, so the question for me was – how can we not get involved?”

Founded by spirits industry veterans Nick Gillett and John Coe, Mangrove UK is a leading specialist distributor of premium spirits and liqueurs. As the anchor investor in the new United Kingdom Licensed Operator for ecoSPIRITS, Mangrove UK brings an extensive network of industry relationships, and an existing portfolio of premium spirits and liqueur brands, to the launch of closed loop service in this all-important spirits market.

The more than 500 hospitality venues that operate the ecoSPIRITS technology in Asia Pacific markets will soon be joined by leading United Kingdom hospitality operators, both large and small. As the on-trade community begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2021, reduced spirits costs, smaller carbon footprints, and sustainable consumption choices offer the prospect of a ‘green reset’ – moving forward to a more sustainable future, rather than a simple reversion to the old normal.

Every now and then there is a need for a disruption in the market place. A disruptor who understands there is a need for change, who is not afraid to challenge status quo and who goes and figures it all out and dedicates massive effort to solve the problem. ecoSPIRITS is the disruptor and a total game changer.”

“I am really excited to have ecoSPIRITS on the UK market. Reducing waste in our industry is sometimes really hard work, but in this case someone has basically done it for you while you are saving cost, which ultimately is a benefit for our guests as well. Having great spirits delivered to your bar, while helping the environment is just a beautiful thing! I cannot wait to have them over in the Mezcaleria soon.”

“Many have seen circular spirits as mission impossible. ecoSPIRITS have made it mission possible to bring the ground breaking concept to the bars to reduce the waste in bars which has a massive impact on our environment. Definitely the way forward as our industry needs to see more actions like this from drink producers.”

The first United Kingdom ecoPLANT™, the 16th worldwide, will be located in central London. More details regarding the United Kingdom launch will be released in January, including the initial portfolio of spirit brands that will be available in ecoSPIRITS format. In the meantime, spirit brands, importers, distributors and venues interested in learning more about closed loop service in the United Kingdom can reach out to ecoSPIRITS via email at [email protected] or Mangrove UK via email at [email protected]


About Mangrove

Mangrove UK was established by John Coe and Nick Gillett in 2014 and now employs over 30 specialist spirits professionals, mixologists, sales and brand experts with extensive experience in both the On and Off trade UK spirits market. Mangrove UK’s hand-picked portfolio displays heritage, innovation and commercial viability. The company has delivered measurable growth for a number of brands to become market leaders in their categories in under five years through strategic marketing and commercial advice, category education, menu creation, PR partnerships and brand activations. With over 100 routes to market, the business has grown turnover from £10.5 million in 2015 to £21.4 million in 2019. Focusing on the premium market, Mangrove UK ensures it represents the highest quality of brands by hand-selecting all products based on their provenance, category authenticity, innovation and commercial value to the trade. For more information, please visit mangrove.com



Three Leading Craft Spirits Producers Join the ecoSPIRITS Platform in Asia Pacific

SINGAPORE 27 JULY 2020  ecoSPIRITS has welcomed three leading craft spirits producers to the ecoSPIRITS low carbon, low waste distribution network in Asia Pacific:  Never Never Distilling Co. in Australia, Peddlers Gin Company in China, and Brass Lion Distillery in Singapore. Through these partnerships, ecoSPIRITS will help each producer make their award-winning spirits more affordable to bars, restaurants and hotels, while eliminating 95% of the single use glass and packaging waste in their respective supply chains.

ecoSPIRITS is movement. One in which producers, distributors and venues come together to dramatically reduce waste, improve affordability, and build a sustainable future for the industry,” notes Zdenek Kastanek, ecoSPIRITS International Sales Director. ”We could not be more excited to welcome these three wonderful partners to the ecoSPIRITS network.

From August 2020, Never Never’s acclaimed Triple Juniper Gin will be available to on trade customers across Australia in the ecoSPIRITS format. In just three years, the team behind Never Never have built Australia’s highest awarded gins and swept onto the world gin stage – no small feat in the current category boom.  Winner of Double Gold at the San Francisco Spirits Awards in 2019, Never Never’s signature spirit bursts with more flavour, to create better gin. Using a three stage infusion process to build juniper intensity – Triple Juniper is perfect for gin & tonics and classic cocktails. The ecoSPIRITS partnership builds on the team’s recent momentum, which includes the February 2020 opening of their permanent brand home and distillery in McLaren Vale, South Australia.

The Never Never distillery in McLaren Vale, Australia

Never Never Triple Juniper Gin

George Georgiadis, Never Never Managing Director, notes, “We set out to push the boundaries not just of flavour but of everything we do. So it’s amazing to play a role in the incredible ecoSPIRITS waste reduction movement, which will have a lasting impact on the sustainability of our industry.”

Founded in Shanghai in 2016, Peddlers Gin Company is China’s first craft gin. Their core product is a Shanghai Gin, using premium local botanicals, such as Buddha’s Hand citrus, lotus flower, and Sichuan pepper. The product and brand is a fusion of traditional and contemporary influences. Blessed with extraordinary growth in their first three years, Peddlers Gin Company is part of a growing “Made in China” movement. Having won several big awards in China and abroad, Peddlers is living proof in that premium spirits from China can compete with the best on the world stage. The partnership with ecoSPIRITS is expected to further grow on trade volumes for Peddlers in their home market by more than 80% within the first twelve months. Peddlers Shanghai Gin will be available in ecoSPIRITS format in select cities in Mainland China from September 2020.

Peddlers Rare Eastern Gin, in ecoTOTE 4.5L and traditional 700ml bottle format

Rio Liu, Asia Sales Director, Peddlers Gin

“We are excited to be an early partner of the ecoSPIRITS program in China, and be a part of the wider sustainability movement in the alcohol industry,” says Rio Liu, Asia Sales Director of Peddlers Gin. “Waste reduction in our supply chains is an important issue. As a Chinese craft gin, we are committed to delivering a premium and thoughtful experience to our customers, who will no doubt embrace the innovation of the ecoSPIRITS technology.”

A partnership between ecoSPIRITS, founded in Singapore in 2017, and Brass Lion Distillery, Singapore’s leading craft spirit producer, is a natural step for both companies. Building Singapore’s first full-fledged micro distillery was a six-year journey for Founder and CEO, Jamie Koh. “I first conceptualised the idea of a Singaporean distillery producing uniquely Singaporean spirits back in 2012. We believe Singapore is the perfect place to create a holistic distillery experience, given how the cocktail and spirits scene here has matured in recent years. At Brass Lion Distillery, we place a strong focus on the quality of our product.”

Jamie Koh, Founder & CEO, Brass Lion Distillery

Brass Lion Singapore Dry Gin

Collaborations like the one between ecoSPIRITS and Brass Lion Distillery are in keeping with Singapore’s vision to become the world’s greenest city. The ecoSPIRITS format will also make Singapore’s leading gin more affordable to the city’s renowned cocktail scene, reducing the delivered cost to venues by a remarkable 25%. Brass Lion’s flagship Singapore Dry Gin will be available in ecoSPIRITS format in Singapore from August 2020.

“With the ecoSPIRITS program, Brass Lion will be the most sustainable spirit available in Singapore.” Notes Jamie Koh, Founder & CEO of Brass Lion Distillery, “In addition to distilling locally and sourcing our botanicals within a 5km radius of the distillery, we will now able to significantly reduce our glass and packaging waste. This lowers our carbon footprint and allows us to pass on the cost savings to our venue partners. We are proud to be able to do our small part for the environment.”

All three spirit producers will participate in the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program, in which one tree is planted in for each cycle of an ecoTOTE through the ecoSPIRITS closed loop distribution platform. Their support of the Forest Program will plant thousands of additional trees, each sequestering approximately 12kg of CO2 per year, in the ecoSPIRITS reforestation area in the endangered Kalimantan rainforest in Borneo.

“Drinking local is an integral part of the future of our industry. Local spirits delivered through low waste, low carbon technology is the ultimate in spirits sustainability,” notes Paul Gabie, ecoSPIRITS CEO. “We thank the teams at Never Never, Peddlers and Brass Lion for their trust. Now we roll up our sleeves and get to work together on the 40 billion single use glass bottles that our industry produces every year.”


About Never Never Distilling Co.

Never Never Distilling Co. is built on bold decisions and a fearless spirit. It was founded by three friends with the passion and drive to produce Australia’s most highly awarded gins. When it comes to the Never Never Distilling Co, our mantra is more flavour. More flavour makes better gin and better gin makes better drinks. We create gins with bold, concentrated flavour, that celebrate a new classic style, in order to create the best g&t’s and signature cocktails. We thirst for more, not just in the spirits we make but in the lives we lead. For more information, please visit www.neverneverdistilling.com.au.

About Peddlers Gin Company

Founded in Shanghai in 2016, Peddlers Shanghai Gin is the world’s first craft gin from China. The product is the result of a three-year journey across the country focused solely on making a gin for the most discerning and adventurous drinkers. Distinctive notes of Buddha’s hand, Sichuan pepper and lotus flower complement traditional botanicals for a unique yet perfectly blended gin. Having won several big awards in China and at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards, Peddlers Gin is part of a growing “Made in China” movement showing that premium craft spirits from the Middle Kingdom can compete with the best on the world stage. For more information, please visit www.peddlersgin.com

About Brass Lion Distillery

Launched in 2018, Brass Lion Distillery is Singapore’s first full-fledged micro-distillery offering a selection of high-quality craft spirits using local ingredients. Inspired by the flourishing spice trade that made Singapore a trading hub in the 19th century, Brass Lion Distillery uses familiar Southeast Asian botanicals to create distinctive spirit creations that reflect Singapore’s heritage as a cultural melting pot. For more information, please visit www.brassliondistillery.com


The Never Never distillery in McLaren Vale, Australia.



Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts Partners with ecoSPIRITS across Asia Pacific

SINGAPORE 3 JUNE 2020 ecoSPIRITS and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts have partnered to reduce single use glass waste and carbon footprint across the leading hotel group’s entire Asia Pacific network. With this partnership, Four Seasons becomes the first hotel group in the world to pioneer low carbon, low waste spirits on a continent-wide scale.

As one of the world’s most respected hotel companies, Four Seasons is extending its leadership position with a number of sustainability initiatives. Under the partnership with ecoSPIRITS, Four Seasons properties across Asia Pacific will exclusively pour premium and craft spirits available through the ecoSPIRITS distribution platform. This partnership is expected to eliminate tens of thousands of single use glass bottles, and many tons of carbon emissions, per year once fully implemented.

ecoSPIRITS is currently available in Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Mainland China, Malaysia, Thailand, the Maldives, Australia, and New Zealand. A growing number of Four Seasons properties have already completed the transition to ecoSPIRITS, including Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Four Seasons Hotel Sydney and Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giravaaru. The balance of Four Season’s Asia Pacific properties will transition to ecoSPIRITS as the technology becomes available in the remaining regional markets.

“We are proud and excited to partner with ecoSPIRITS in implementing this innovative and important new technology across 27 properties in the Asia Pacific region.” said Four Seasons Asia Pacific Vice President of Food & Beverage, Philipp Blaser.  “The positive impact of decreasing the carbon footprint of spirits by 80% speak for themselves, especially as in 2020 we are welcoming 10 new restaurants and bars including the opening of Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Praya River and Four Seasons Tokyo Otemachi. We have found the transition process to be seamless with very few changes required in back-of-house, while the partnership further reinforces our other sustainability efforts in other areas including the elimination of plastic bottles from our guestroom private bars in Asia Pacific and plastic straws across our global portfolio.”

As part of this ground-breaking partnership, ecoSPIRITS will provide detailed carbon audit and waste savings reporting to Four Seasons.  In addition to this glass waste reduction, the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program will plant one indigenous tree in a reforestation tract of the Kalimantan rainforest area in Borneo, Indonesia for each cycle of an ecoTOTE through the ecoSPIRITS and Four Seasons closed loop. ecoSPIRITS expects to plant several thousand trees on behalf of Four Seasons in the next 12 months.

ecoSPIRITS CEO Paul Gabie notes, “Provenance is important for premium spirits, and for the well-travelled luxury hotel guest. Unfortunately, this translates into high carbon footprints. ecoSPIRITS addresses the problem of single use glass, which makes up the majority of the carbon footprint of premium spirits. We are delighted to partner with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, who are demonstrating true sustainability leadership with this Asia-Pacific wide commitment. Together, we can eliminate a small portion of the 22 million tons of carbon emission that single use glass spirit bottles will generate in 2020.” 


About Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

Founded in 1960, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is dedicated to perfecting the travel experience through continual innovation and the highest standards of hospitality. Currently operating 116 hotels and resorts, and 44 residential properties in major city centres and resort destinations in 47 countries, and with more than 50 projects under planning or development, Four Seasons consistently ranks among the world’s best hotels and most prestigious brands in reader polls, traveller reviews and industry awards. For more information and reservations, visit fourseasons.com. For the latest news, visit press.fourseasons.com and follow @FourSeasonsPR on Twitter.