Most people enjoy a tipple or two when away on their holidays…there is nothing quite like sipping a refreshing cocktail as the sun sets on the horizon after another balmy day in the tropics.
However, the production of alcohol can leave a nasty taste in your mouth as the gases and side-products can be very detrimental for the environment.
Thankfully, there are a number of alcohol manufacturers who are opting to make their drinks using eco-friendly techniques, some of which benefit other local firms in the area.
One of these suppliers is Don Q in Puerto Rico who specialise in the production of eco-friendly rum, allowing tourists to enjoy a mojito cocktail which is green not just in the colour of the drink.
Alcohol production inevitably produces waste C02 gases which normally drift into the atmosphere but Don Q has come up with a solution which is not only thrifty but helps the environment. The distillery collects all the gases formed as a byproduct and sells them cheaply to local firms to add the fizz to their soft drinks.
The solids produced from the distillery process are also recycled into fertilizer, whilst the waste water ends up in a variety of guises. Some of the product is turned into biogas and the steam surplus from this process which is not re-used by the distillery is routed to provide electricity.
The recycling of all components of the process mean that no waste products are discharged into the Caribbean Sea, helping to protect the fragile ecosystems and keep the water clean.
Don Q is not the only alcoholic firm aiming to help the eco-conscious enjoy a bevy without worrying about the effect that their drink may have had on the environment.
One firm taking it a step further is Organic Vodka, which as well as adopting eco-friendly manufacturing processes, has said that it will plant a tree for every bottle purchased. They have also extended their green practices to every aspect of their packaging, only using soy-based ink on corn fibre labels and 25% less glass in their bottles – without compromising on the size. The firm has also pioneered a unique way to fold their boxes which does away with the need for packing tape.
Other innovations in the guilt-free alcohol market include vegetable vodkas and organically certified tequila.
So next time you are fancy a tipple or two – feel free to indulge with a clear conscience – but unfortunately eco-friendly booze still produces the same distinctly unfriendly effects the morning after…
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