Mount Gay Distillery on a mission to cut its carbon emissions

By Shamar Blunt 

Mount Gay Distilleries is on a mission to reduce its carbon emissions by 50 per cent over the next five years.

Managing Director Antoine Couvreur says that in keeping with the brand’s significant green energy and carbon-reducing push it has made over the years with the installation of solar panels and other green energy projects at its distillery site, Mount Gay aims to go a step further by further reducing its carbon footprint before 2030.

Speaking on Monday, at Mount Gay’s 320th anniversary celebration launch of the newest addition to its rum collection Couvreur said: “Mount Gay will also be expanding its renewable energy trust by installing additional solar photovoltaic to complement the existing solar systems which are already installed on the roofs of our building.  

Managing Director Antoine Couvreur and Global Brand Director Laurent Cosson at Monday’s anniversary celebrations.

“Our aim is to reduce the company’s carbon emissions by over 50 per cent, through carbon reduction and compensation initiatives over the next five years, further contributing to Barbados’ goal by being carbon neutral by 2030.” 

Convreur said a new bottle recycling strategy will soon be implemented, which will see the company drastically reducing its importation of glass bottles into the island.

“We must each play our part, both at the individual level as well as a team player, and continue to protect not only the distillery and our brand, but also our island as well. In this [vein] we will be ramping up our bottle recycling company, as we aim to reduce our waste and carbon footprint by importing less glass and contributing to a greener economy,” he told the audience at Worthing Square in Christ Church.

He added: “We have partnered with B’s Recycling to spearhead this very important venture. We are therefore encouraging all of you to drop off your bottles at B’s Recycling in St Thomas, or the Bottle Collection Depot at Carlton Supermarket and Emerald City, so that we can reach our goal of recycling most of our bottles.” (SB)