Bacardi has extended its collaboration with ecoSPIRITS aimed at reducing single-use glass bottles and packaging waste in the cruise sector. 

The duo’s collaboration started in August 2023, when Bacardi became the first spirits company to introduce circular packaging in the cruise industry, aboard Carnival Cruise Line ships. 

As announced in a statement, the pilot program found that circular packaging can operate effectively in high-volume cruise environments without compromising quality or operational performance.

“Our collaboration with Bacardi began with a bold idea: bringing circular packaging to the cruise industry for the first time. Since then, we’ve demonstrated what this model can deliver in a complex, high-volume environment,” said Paul Gabie, CEO, ecoSPIRITS.

“This new global agreement marks an important next step in our collaboration and creates a framework to explore broader future opportunities together across additional channels and sectors. The technical collaboration we’ve built with Bacardi also shows how brand owners and technology partners can work together to accelerate the transition away from single-use glass.”

Since then, the collaboration has eliminated more than 130,000 single-use glass bottles and removed more than 82,000 kilograms of packaging waste.

The new agreement formalizes a closer technical collaboration between the two companies on technology solutions for demanding operational environments, such as cruise ships.

With access to the full ecoSPIRITS circular technology platform, including ecoTOTE, SmartPour, ecoPLANT and the CircularONE software platform, Bacardi will explore potential future applications across additional brands, channels and sectors over time.

Bacardi already provided input into the development of the ecoTOTE 3.0SC Cruise Edition, a purpose-built solution for maritime environments with enhanced corrosion resistance.

“At Bacardi, Good Spirited is about making better choices for both people and planet, while continuing to grow our business the right way,” noted Rodolfo Nervi, VP, corporate sustainability, global safety and quality, Bacardi.

“Expanding our work in circular packaging builds on real progress we’ve already made to reduce waste across our portfolio and reflects our ambition to keep raising the bar. This agreement shows how collaboration and innovation can help accelerate positive change at scale.”