Sustainability Report: Mermaid Gin
Isle of Wight Distillery – how spirits can lead the way in sustainability
Since it was founded in 2014, Isle of Wight Distillery has never lost sight of its roots, paying homage to the vibrant natural landscape of the island through its powerful sustainability mission.
Made with nature in mind, its hero brand Mermaid Gin reflects the distillery’s commitment to protecting the environment, from sourcing to packaging.
From this, Isle of Wight Distillery has expanded its spirits portfolio of premium spirits produced in “a sustainable, community-minded way”.
Commenting on its ethical sourcing practices, Isle of Wight Distillery Marketing Director Ginnie Taylor says: “All our spirits use local or ethically sourced botanicals and, where possible, we harvest botanicals from the island.
Mermaid Gin: Adding zest to the spirits category in travel retail
“Rock samphire is wild foraged from the coast, rock sea salt is harvested from the flood tides, and we use fresh locally grown fruit – island lemons and bergamots go into Mermaid Zest Gin and delicious fresh white cherries and apricots are infused into our Mermaid Spiced Rum. We also use Isle of Wight honey in our rum. Honey flavours vary according to the flowers in the area, so this gives a real island flavour to Mermaid Spiced Rum.”
Since 2019, the company has also been using zero-plastic bottles for its Mermaid Gin and created its carbon calculator to monitor its month-by-month footprint.
“Right from the start, sustainability was at the core of the brand and the business,” Taylor explains. “It’s in our DNA. We’re a team of ocean lovers – surfers, rowers and swimmers. We also share information and products we’ve developed, to help the industry help the planet.
“Our tamperproof seals, developed with Viscose Closures, are now used widely in spirits. These look like plastic, but they’re compostable in food waste, biodegrading in six to 12 weeks. Tens of thousands of plastic tamperproof seals have been replaced by these and that’s a real win for the planet. Perhaps that’s what sets us apart – our desire to make real, sustainable change to help future generations.”
The company’s sustainable sourcing initiatives and circular practices have helped it achieve prestigious B Corp certification. B Corp certification is only awarded to businesses which meet the highest standards for sustainability, public transparency, legal accountability and social and environmental performance.
Mermaid Gin has also been awarded first place in the IWSC Awards and Best Eco-Packaging from the American Distilling Institute.
Taylor adds: “In 2022 we became a B Corporation, joining a global movement of progressive organisations balancing profit with people and purpose. We strive to be sustainable and while we have global reach, all Mermaid spirits are distilled and bottled on the island by people who live in our community.
“We started out with the goal of being a leading sustainable brand at a time when not many in the spirits industry were considering environmental impact.
“Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do; being an island brand, we’re connected with our home and the water around it. At the core of our strategy is our mission; from there we identify areas that can be changed, set KPIs and implement changes. As a B Corp, we’re subject to rigorous scrutiny, which is brilliant as it keeps us on track, continuously driving to improve our practice.”
In travel retail, Isle of Wight Distillery is represented by Duty Free Global. Its strong sustainability credentials strengthen its USPs as it continues to invest and expand in the channel.
Partner’s message
The Moodie Davitt eZine
Issue 334 | 12 May 2024
The Moodie Davitt eZine is published 14 times per year by The Moodie Davitt Report (Moodie International Ltd). © All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced without the permission of the Publisher. To find out more visit www.moodiedavittreport.com and to subscribe, please e-mail kristyn@moodiedavittreport.com