Bombay Sapphire on track to source all its botanicals sustainably

Bombay Sapphire is on track to be sourcing all of its 10 botanicals from sustainable producers by the end of 2021.

With eight suppliers already certified according to the For Life sustainability standards, the gin brand has revealed its goal for the final two producers – for grains of paradise in Ghana and liquorice in China – to be certified once global travel restrictions are lifted.

Awarded by Ecocert, the world’s leading specialist in sustainable practices, For Life certificaiton covers aspects including reduction of environmental impact, responsible purchasing practices, and the wellbeing of the people involved in harvesting and supply.

It is a major step for Bombay Sapphire and its parent company, Bacardi, which itself is working towards the goal of sourcing all its key ingredients from sustainable-certified suppliers by 2025.

The 10 botanicals that make up Bombay Sapphire, including juniper from Tuscany, coriander from Morocco and lemon peel from Spain, are selected by its master of botanicals Ivano Tonutti.

Ivano said: “We take a 360-degree approach to sustainability. It’s our responsibility to care as much about the farmers and their communities as we do the botanicals they grow and harvest for Bombay Sapphire. By looking after their wellbeing and investing in sustainable farming practices, we are helping to protect the environment and their livelihoods for generations to come.”

“For Life certification gives consumers peace of mind that ingredients are coming from organisations committed to continuous improvement,” says Ecocert CEO Philippe Thomazo. “It means that suppliers growing and harvesting the certified botanicals for Bombay Sapphire are acting responsibly in every respect.”

Natasha Curtin, Bombay Sapphire vice president, said: “I am incredibly proud of this latest achievement by Ivano and his team but as an industry, we must all invest in a more sustainable future. Ivano has spent more than 20 years building close relationships with our farmers and suppliers around the world. With his experience and expertise, we have created a blueprint for the sustainable sourcing of botanicals, which we hope will inspire others to do the same.”

As well as the spirits it produces, Bombay Sapphire has worked to make its brand home, Laverstoke Mill in Hampshire, as sustainable as possible with cutting-edge developments to reduce its environmental impact. Following its redevelopment and reopening in 2014, it became the first distillery to achieve an ‘outstanding’ BREEAM rating (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method).