Bacardi has completed the world’s first commercial production of a glass spirits bottle fueled by hydrogen.
The trail, which took place earlier this month, saw the white rum brand working with premium glassmaker Hranstnik1860 to pioneer new technology that powered a glass furnace with hydrogen at its primary energy source.
Over the course of the trial, which produced 150,000 of the brand’s 70cl glass bottles, hydrogen contributed to more than 60% of the fuel for the glass furnace, cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 30%.
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Bacardi used the bottle design for the St-Germain elderflower liqueur which is identical in appearance to the bottle produced using traditional methods, and will reach stores in the coming weeks.
Bacardi vice president safety, quality and sustainability Rodolfo Nervi said: “Piloting this lower carbon glass production is another example of Bacardi leading the industry in environmental best practice.
“We will take the learnings from the trial to help shape a pathway to hydrogen-fueled glass production and create a blueprint for others to follow. It’s only through making change as an industry that we can bring significant change to our impact on the environment.”
This forms part of Bacardi’s ambition of becoming the most environmentally responsible global spirits company, with an ultimate goal of net zero.
