HAVE you ever considered how your drink of choice impacts the planet? With one 750 ml bottle of alcohol producing about 2.95 kg of carbon dioxide, maybe now’s the time to begin.
Globally, there’s a sweeping movement, with industry leaders like Belvedere Vodka, advocating to leave a lighter touch on the Earth. “Made With Nature”, the brand is crafted from Polska rye, water and fire – and nothing else. The whole process is inspired by sustainable practices, with Belvedere committing to cut its carbon emissions by 80% by the end of 2021.
“We’re a brand built on a simple philosophy – Made With Nature. Our expertise comes from Poland’s 600-year vodka-making legacy. A big part of that is passion and respect for the land. Our rye is a superior grain with ancient roots. It is impeccably grown, in some of the world’s most special locations,” says Patrick Leslie, portfolio manager of Belvedere Vodka.
“Last week, we held a Belvedere Nature Immersion event with influencers at the beautiful Cellars-Hohenort Hotel in Cape Town. The event served as an opportunity for us to not only introduce our newly launched Belvedere Single Estate Rye vodkas, but to also reaffirm our all-natural credentials ahead of World Environment Day. The Belvedere Lake Bartężek is crafted from rye grown on the glimmering shores of a glacial lake. Long snowy winters help to create a delicate vodka with hints of spearmint and toasted nuts. While our Belvedere Smogóry Forest sparkles with salted caramel and honey-kissed hints, playfully born from rye grown deep in the woodlands of Western Poland, infused with the sunshine of long summer days.
“We know that protecting our Polska rye for future generations is imperative for our business. So we’re committed to helping our farmer use sustainable farming practices. We’re also dedicated to cutting our own emissions. We are currently establishing a way to turn our waste products into biogas to power our 111-year-old distillery and surrounding areas.”
Leslie adds that from 2012–2017 the brand cut CO2 emissions by 42%. With a grant from the European Commission, its completion will reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2022.
As well as choosing drinks made by environmentally conscious manufacturers, people are also increasingly aware of the purity of the products they’re feeding their bodies. Leslie adds: “We know that individuals are seeking alcohols that don’t have any additives or sugar. We are proud that our spirits are made with the very best the land has to offer. Nothing else. We take simple ingredients and transform them into extraordinary vodka. The transition has begun to be 100% organic-certified, including our flagship Belvedere pure, from 2023. We suggest a fresh, simple approach to cocktails that carries this philosophy further.”
Toast to World Environment Day with Belvedere’s signature Spritz cocktail; Made With Nature by a company that supports sustainable practices, it’s the best way to celebrate Mother Earth.
INGREDIENTS
30 ml Belvedere Vodka
2 grapefruit slices
1 sprig of thyme
Top with tonic water
METHOD
- Fill the Belvedere cocktail glass to the top with ice
- Combine all the ingredients
- Garnish with grapefruit slices and a sprig of thyme
