As a pioneer in sustainability, Two Drifters has earned a prestigious title: the world’s first producer of carbon-negative rum. Here’s the remarkable part – each bottle of their rum removes over 1 kg of CO2 from the atmosphere. So, with every sip, you’re not just indulging in a smooth, flavourful spirit; you’re actively contributing to a cleaner planet.
This innovation is particularly significant considering the rum industry’s environmental impact. The global rum market is projected to reach a value of USD 22.54 billion by 2029, with traditional production methods often leaving a sizable carbon footprint.
Two Drifters’ achievement is fueled by their innovative technology that captures more CO2 than their entire rum-making process emits, encompassing everything from sourcing local, ethically grown sugarcane to bottling the final product.
As of right now we are influencing how the drinks business (and indeed all businesses) think about the production of their products with a view towards their carbon footprint. – Russ and Gemma Wakeham
View this post on Instagram
Sustainable Bottle
Two Drifters’ bottles are crafted from clear glass, a recyclable material that allows the rum’s rich colour to shine through. The brand also ditches traditional plastic caps for a natural cork stopper, made from FSC-certified wood. A tamper-evident seal ensures product safety while remaining fully compostable, leaving no harmful residue behind.
Moreover, the Two Drifters’s label is an example of a marvel of sustainable design, composed of 95% sugarcane fibre, a waste product from rum production, and 5% hemp and linen.
Self-imposed Carbon Tax
Two Drifters has implemented an unique approach – a self-imposed carbon tax. Essentially, they financially penalise themselves for any emissions their operations generate. These “penalties” then fund permanent carbon removal through Climeworks, a technology capturing and storing atmospheric CO2.
Their website offers a comprehensive breakdown of their carbon footprint, meticulously detailing emissions from “cradle to grave” – encompassing every stage of rum production, from sourcing sugarcane to bottling the final product. This level of openness allows consumers to witness their commitment firsthand and fosters trust in their sustainability efforts.
Prioritising Environmental Responsibility
Many distilleries rely on a wasteful practice – using and discarding vast amounts of mains water for cooling purposes – which can be as high as 10-15 litres of water per litre of alcohol produced. Two Drifters takes a smarter approach. They’ve implemented a closed-loop chiller system. This system significantly reduces water usage and eliminates the environmental impact associated with discarded water – a win-win for sustainability and resource management. Two Drifters has also transitioned to a fleet of electric vehicles, eliminating emissions associated with traditional fuel-powered transportation.
Beyond Avoidance
While Two Drifters prioritises avoiding CO2 emissions, some aspects are unavoidable, like shipping molasses and glass bottle production. Here, they take a two-pronged approach:
Seeking Sustainable Alternatives: They constantly look for ways to further reduce their footprint by finding sustainable alternatives in all aspects of their production.
Carbon Removal with Climeworks: They partner with Climeworks, a company utilising technology to capture and permanently store carbon dioxide. This ensures they remove more carbon than their entire footprint creates, resulting in a negative footprint – a remarkable feat in the rum industry.
Through avoidance and sustainable thinking, we have managed to get our total footprint down to 1.20 kgCO2e (cradle-to-grave), most rum distilleries have a footprint of 2.95 kgCO2e (cradle-to-gate, they account for less of a footprint). BUT, we then permanently remove this 1.20 kgCO2e (and more) with Climeworks. So our total footprint is less than 0 kgCO2e! – Two Drifters
Two Drifters Rums: Chart a Course for Flavour
Two Drifters’ core collection features four distinct rums, each with its own unique personality:
- Lightly Spiced Rum: This award-winning expression is a dry and crisp sipper, perfect for those who appreciate a subtle touch of vanilla and mixed spice.
- Pure White Rum: Mixologists rejoice! This unaged rum provides a clean base for your favourite cocktails, showcasing its versatility and smoothness.
- Overproof Pineapple Rum: A tropical twist, this rum packs a punch at 63% ABV. Bursting with fresh pineapple, sweet caramel, and spiced vanilla, it’s ideal for those who enjoy a bolder taste.
- Signature Rum: Two Drifters’ flagship expression is a balanced and approachable rum, perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks.
Two Drifters also offers special sets, including The Rum Collection, featuring the full spectrum of their beautiful Two Drifters rums. Their Taster Set, on the other hand, includes four 5cl bottles, each showcasing a different rum from their collection. Made with World Land Trust paper and reflecting their carbon-negative footprint, each Taster Set removes over 500 grams of carbon dioxide from the air.
For more information about Two Drifters, investment opportunities and where to find their products please visit twodriftersrum.com or contact the team at sales@twodriftersdistillery.com.
Resources:
