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Bacardi achieves highest environmental standards of operation
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On Dec.2, 2009, Bacardi Limited, one of the largest privately held spirits companies in the world, announced it has been certified to operate in accordance with the world’s most recognized standards for quality, environment and health and safety.
Bacardi is the only major spirits company to achieve certification under International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 and 14001, as well as Occupational Health and Safety Standards(OHSAS) 18001 for all its production facilities globally, putting the company among an elite group of the world’s best-run companies.
Spirits company Bacardi Limited has been certified to operate in accordance with the world’s most recognized standards for quality, environment and health and safety.
According to a press release from the spirits company, the “Triple Crown” certification speaks to the company’s mission to deliver the finest product possible, the safest working conditions and reduce its impact on the environment.
“As the only major spirits company to be awarded these certifications globally, I believe this underlines our commitment to excellence in world-class operations,” said Séamus McBride, president and chief executive officer of Bacardi Limited. “We are in constant pursuit of greater benefits for our consumers, customers, employees and the environment and work continuously to build trust in the company.”
The “Triple Crown” certification process started three years ago.
Each management and operational process is audited, cross-checked and certified annually by independent auditors accredited to certify to the ISO and OHSAS standards. In addition, Bacardi implemented cross-functional review teams to assess actions globally to maintain and improve upon the standards.
“Questioning accepted ways of doing things and finding innovative solutions are consistent with Bacardi’s long-held value to strive for excellence in everything we do,” said Jon Grey, vice president of global operations for Bacardi. “With these certifications, consumers can be even more confident they are enjoying the highest quality spirits brands available from a company which measurably shows it cares both about its employees and a cleaner environment.”
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS:
Water reduction
• 4 percent reduction in total water used to manufacture products from the previous year.
• 19.3 percent reduction in total water used over the past three years – enough to fill 250 Olympic swimming pools.
• 2.8 percent improvement in water use efficiency (per unit of product) over the previous year, and improved by 9.5 percent over the past three years.
• Clean-in-Place — The La Galarza facility in Mexico installed a Clean-in-Place (CIP) system on its fermentation tank, improving the water efficiency of tank wash-out. The site’s overall water use has improved by nearly 30 percent in three years. The facility in Arandas, Mexico, made similar improvements, installing high-pressure hydro-cleaners for tank cleaning to significantly reduce the water needed for this operation. The site’s distillery operations have cut water use by 50 percent in the last three years.
Energy improvements
• In fiscal 2009, Bacardi reduced its total energy used by 6.1percent from the previous year; overall energy use has reduced by 9.2 percent over the past three years.
• Energy efficiency (i.e., renewable energy investments) was 7.2 percent better in fiscal 2009 than in the previous year and has improved by 11.2 percent over the past three years.
• 12.6 percent of direct energy requirements were provided from renewable sources in fiscal 2009.
• Puerto Rico generates biogas from its wastewater and generates enough steam and electricity to meet about half its energy needs while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Greenhouse gas reduction
• In fiscal 2009, Bacardi reduced its greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by 9.2 percent over the previous year and have achieved a three-year reduction of 14.5 percent.
• PET Bottles — In Canada, Bacardi has reduced the environmental footprint of BACARDI BREEZER. The entire brand portfolio has now been switched over to PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles, reducing the weight of a filled case of BACARDI BREEZER by 33 percent to 9.9 Kg. Using lighter weight bottles cuts fuel use and, in a year, this initiative will save 1,232 tons of greenhouse gas emissions generated in transporting the product from bottling plant to retailers – as well as saving Bacardi money on fuel costs. BACARDI BREEZER was one of the first in the low proof ready-to-drink category to switch packaging, and research also showed that consumers welcomed the convenience and functionality of the lightweight, shatter-resistant bottles.
• Carbon footprint implications are reviewed as part of the standard packaging development process.
Waste reduction
• 92.5 percent of operational waste at the Pessione, Italy, facility is recycled, including solids such as paper, wood, glass, cartons, metal and plastic.
QUALITY BENEFITS:
• Bacardi routinely works with an independent third-party to measure the quality of its products in 24 cities in 12 different countries around the world — believed to be some of the most extensive quality studies in the industry. Audit results show continuous improvement in package quality, which is supported by ISO 9000, in Bacardi’s key markets over the last three years.
• Bacardi’s commitment to perfection and quality has led to a significant decrease in routine customer queries. In the last three years, Bacardi has seen a 12 percent reduction in consumer inquiries relating to packaging quality and continues to see improvement in this area.
• In its last audit, SGS, an independent auditing agency on the ISO 9000 Quality Management System, certified Bacardi’s system with zero non-conformances globally, an extremely rare occurrence.
HEALTH & SAFETY BENEFITS:
Safer workplaces
• Lost time accident rate has been reduced from 13.1 to 4.9 per million worked hours – a 63 percent decrease over the past three and half years.
• Fire Risk and Emergency Planning — To ensure the risk from fires inherent with the manufacture and storage of alcohol is reduced to as low a level as is reasonably practicable, Bacardi has implemented a robust Code of Practice for Fire Safety and Emergency Planning. These procedures require sites to implement the highest standards of fire safety and are supported by a series of loss control audits conducted by an external specialist fire technician. In addition, many facilities have implemented significant capital improvements to their alcohol containment facilities, as well as upgrades to fire detection, prevention and control systems.
