VnC Cocktails stirs sustainability in to mix
Wednesday 22 June 2011, 7:04AM
By Wright Communications Limited
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Planet conscious fashionistas in Manhattan, Moscow and Macau can now sip their Kiwi-made Vodka Mojitos knowing their classic drink from VnC Cocktails is certified sustainable, from a fragrant lime orchard to frosty glass.
Being able to track the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to its ready to serve drinks from tree to tumbler, has allowed the hip exporter to become the first company in the world to gain CEMARS® product certification.
The new CEMARS (Certified Emissions Measurement And Reduction Scheme) product certification was a natural fit VnC Cocktails – which exports to 27 countries and wants its key overseas markets to know its products are cool and sustainable.
Alex Badger, VnC Cocktails marketing manager, says: “We are dedicated to providing consumers with all-natural products which have a low environmental impact. People who buy our cocktails and decision makers throughout our supply chain are focused on reducing the environmental impact of the products they choose.”
Demonstrating commitment to reduce its carbon footprint through CEMARS is important to VnC and fits naturally with the company’s brand values which include being preservative free and using recyclable PET plastic packaging.
Gaining CEMARS required VnC Cocktails to conduct a full lifecycle analysis of its all-natural ingredients, and the resulting cocktail products which are shipped overseas.
“Having CEMARS certification will give us a competitive edge, particularly in markets such as Europe and the United Kingdom.”
CEMARS streamlines the process for exporters to achieve credible GHG certification, says Graham Carter, chief executive for the carboNZeroCertTM programme, which developed CEMARS as an alternative option to its world-leading carbon neutral certification.
“More countries are either legislating ways to measure carbon footprints of imports, or looking to. Global retail giants such as Walmart and Tesco have put a line in the sand saying ‘carbon label or show us your carbon scorecard, or we won’t show you our shelves’.”
Mr Carter says the CEMARS product certification is expected to be popular with exporters in the food and beverage sector such as VnC Cocktails, and manufacturers of products such as plastics, bottling and skin care.
He says CEMARS product certification was added to the programme’s range of internationally recognised certification options because it provides an opportunity for companies to demonstrate the measurement and reduction of their products’ emissions before going on to, or instead of, gaining full carbon neutral certification.
“It makes total economic sense. Cutting emissions will result in cost savings, and in most cases this outweighs the cost of obtaining the certification. A certified emissions measurement and reduction claim adds value to a brand and increases market access.”
Alex Badger says VnC Cocktails recently secured a trial supply deal with the UK supermarket chain ASDA, and its pending CEMARS certification was an important factor in satisfying ADSA of its environmental responsibility.
CEMARS product certification is based on a scientific footprint measurement, aligned with international best practice (PAS 2050 and ISO 14067) and developed by the world’s first internationally accredited greenhouse gas (GHG) certification scheme under ISO 14065.
To accomplish a global strategy, CEMARS has been licensed to UK firm Achilles Information Limited to target UK organisations, and the certification has proved popular with 56 organisations having achieved CEMARS certification, and another 55 organisations well on the way to achieving the standard.
Licensees in Australia include Bureau Veritas, a leading independent certification body with 80,000 clients in more than 100 countries, and Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance, which has a growing network of climate change units and offices servicing more than 120 countries. CEMARS is also establishing itself in Chile and the UAE.