A recent article published by Alice Brooker from the Spirits Business website provided some interesting reading with regards to sustainability involving many of the well known drinks giants.
The Good Shopping Guide’s ethical ranking of 36 spirits brands based on their ethical and sustainable practices shone a poor light on LVMH owned Belvedere vodka & Hennessy Cognac.
The brands were rated out of 100.
Belvedere and Hennessy received bottom ratings, scoring 32 points in the organic, animal welfare , vegetarian/vegan, political donations, and public record criticisms. The two brands were also marked down in the public record criticisms-plus criteria. Other low scores were given to Smirnoff vodka, Gordons gin and Captain Morgan rum. Each scoring 42 points. Absolute vodka, Havana Club rum and Malibu rum scored 46 points. Bacardi rum, Hendrick’s gin, Bombay Sapphire and Whitley Neill gin all achieved a score of 62.
Two brands shared top spot. They were Nc’nean whisky and Juniper Green gin, each scoring 92 points.
To measure the brand’s ethics and sustainability ratings, The Good Shopping Guide looked at the spirits brands’ environmental reports, which had to be dated in the last two years to attain a top rating. The brand’s relationship with nuclear power, genetic modification, organic farming, fossil fuels and sustainable materials. The brand’s animal welfare policies and whether it works with vegan and vegetarian products were also investigated. In addition the Guide looked at how the brand worked with people, ensuring brands were not funding political parties or involved in controversial investments.
Kat Alexander director of The Good Shopping Guide commented: "There is still work to do from some of the more established spirits brands, especially regarding environmental impact. In the near future , we hope to see progress across all ethical criteria we research".
