Bacardi Aims to Eliminate 1 Billion Plastic Straws By
2020
Bacardi has teamed up with environmental
charity Lonely Whale to clamp down on single-use plastic and eradicate one
billion plastic straws by 2020. The latest collaboration from the drinks group, called
The Future Doesn’t Suck, will also see Bacardi remove “non-essential”,
non-recyclable single-use plastic across its global supply chain. The campaign will feature numerous corporate
and brand collaborations, events and global calls-to-action, and will also
encourage consumers to join the movement and share ideas online via the hashtag
#TheFutureDoesntSuck. Rick Wilson,
senior vice president of corporate responsibility for Bacardi, said: “Engaging
our accounts and our consumers in the reduction of single-use plastic is a
critical next step in helping to put an end to plastic pollution.
“Single-use plastic items are among the
most collected pieces of trash in our oceans, and we are urging our consumers
to add ‘no plastic straw, please’ to every drink order so together we can make
an impactful change.” The Future Doesn’t Suck campaign will initially launch in
London, where Bacardi and Lonely Whale will work with consumers and businesses
to help them cut down on their plastic straw usage. A number of illustrations will accompany the
campaign, depicting the “devastating” impact of single-use plastic straws on
oceans. Bacardi will no longer be serving single-use plastic straws at branded
events, music activations or the Bacardi Rum Truck, and will also be
introducing biodegradable paper cups across its UK activations.
Education
Furthermore, Bacardi has launched a new
training program at its global headquarters in Bermuda, designed to educate
distributor partners and on-trade venues about plastic straw alternatives. John Burke, chief marketing officer for
Bacardi globally, said: “Our focus for the past two years has been leading the
industry charge with our #NoStraws pledge and now is the
time to review the larger issue of single-use plastic in the greater Bacardi
world to determine how and where we can truly make a bigger difference and
continue leading the charge to build a more sustainable future. “I believe through collaborations like this
one with Lonely Whale, where we can bring society and business together, we can
make impactful change to ensure ‘the future doesn’t suck’.” People keen to get involved in the campaign
can learn more and commit to the cause by visiting thefuturedoesntsuck.org.
Read More at https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2018/07/bacardi-aims-to-eliminate-1bn-plastic-straws-by-2020/
