Bacardi and Hrastnik1860: Pioneers of lower-carbon glass manufacturing with hydrogen
Family-owned spirits giant Bacardi is committed to leading the drinks industry in environmental best practices, by investing in innovative new technologies and exploring opportunities to decarbonise their operations at every stage of their production process. This is not just about the sustainable sourcing of ingredients or transitioning to clean energy – it also means choosing to package their products in glass – an entirely circular packaging material that is helping the company deliver on their sustainability promises. That’s why Bacardi chose to partner with the glass manufacturer Hrastnik1860 to trial hydrogen-fuelled glass production.
Hrastnik1860 is a glass manufacturer with over 160 years of experience in producing sophisticated and innovative glass bottles. As well as being experts in designing technically demanding glass bottles, the company shares Bacardi’s goal of reducing the environmental footprint of each of their products. As Hrastnik1860 frequently collaborates with the spirits industry, the company recognises the importance of improving energy efficiency and finding pioneering alternatives to traditional manufacturing practices.
A breakthrough for glass production
Hrastnik1860’s new method of decarbonisation, which uses hydrogen as the main energy source in glass production, is not only an innovative milestone for the company – it also represents an industry-wide breakthrough. Hydrogen is a clean fuel source that is a viable option for replacing fossil fuels, as it only emits water as a byproduct, instead of greenhouse gases. Hrastnik1860 successfully replaced the natural gas traditionally used in the glass production process with hydrogen, while maintaining the original quality of the product. This rejects previous concerns that producing high-quality glass would not be possible with large quantities of hydrogen as a fuel source.
Tilen Sever, Director of Development, Technology and Innovation at Hrastnik1860, explained: “the combustion efficiency when using hydrogen was similar to that of natural gas. Crucially, hydrogen had no significant impact on the clarification and discoloration of the glass, allowing us to maintain product quality within existing technological limits.”
Reducing the spirits industry’s carbon footprint, together.
Together, Bacardi and Hrastnik1860 trialled the first ever commercial production of these hydrogen-powered glass spirit bottles. This trial produced 150.000 70cl glass bottles. More than 60% of the fuel used in the production was hydrogen, which in turn resulted in a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The new, lower-carbon glass bottles will be available in bars and on shop shelves in the weeks following the trial.
Rodolfo Nervi, Vice President of Safety, Quality and Sustainability for Bacardi, noted: “piloting this lower carbon glass production is another example of Bacardi leading the industry in environmental best practice. We will take the learnings from the trial to help shape a pathway to hydrogen-fuelled glass production and create a blueprint for others to follow. It’s only through making change as an industry that we can bring significant change to our impact on the environment.”
A bottle with a rich history, fit for the future
Bacardi chose their iconic ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur bottle for the trial, and the hydrogen-produced bottles proved to be identical in appearance to those made using the traditional production process.
Glass packaging and the spirits industry have a centuries-old history. The first spirits producers opted for glass bottles because they are inert and impermeable. This allowed them to preserve the taste and quality of the product, protecting it from external influences, including damage from UV light. In addition, the design of glass packaging is highly customizable, allowing spirits producers to create distinctive and light weight bottles, without compromising the quality and integrity of the bottle. Today, glass bottles in the spirits industry are synonymous with both high quality and heritage, in addition to being a completely circular packaging option.
Peter Čas, CEO of Steklarna Hrastnik and Vaider Group, emphasised: “Successfully producing lower emission, premium glass bottles at a commercial scale, with absolutely no compromise on quality, has made all the hard work worthwhile. Like Bacardi, we are committed to developing new innovations that lower emissions while maintaining premium quality. This revolutionary technology proves the two can go hand in hand and we are now taking the first steps in bringing it to market.”
Paving the way for decarbonisation
Consumers are becoming more and more concerned about the environmental impact of the products they buy, and increasingly take this into consideration when making purchasing decisions. To meet this growing consumer trend towards sustainability, brands must consider their environmental footprint across every stage of their supply chain, from production to transportation – and of course, packaging material.
Hrastnik1860 plans to expand their commercial production of hydrogen-produced glass packaging to offer more sustainable options to a wider range of partners. Through their partnership, Hrastnik1860 and Bacardi are demonstrating the value of collaboration. They are paving the way for both the container glass, and the spirits industries, to decarbonise alongside one another. The successful manufacturing and trialling of low emission, high-quality glass bottles on an industrial scale is just one exciting example of the many ways in which glass manufacturers are decarbonising their production processes.
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Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held international spirits company, produces, markets, and distributes spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels. Founded more than 161 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs approximately 9,000, operates production facilities in 11 countries and territories, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.
Hrastnik1860, a member of the Vaider Group, has more than 160 years of expertise in glass and is a global partner in the development and manufacturing of world-class engineered glass products. The company is known for creating technically demanding bottles, primarily for the spirits industry, and is a full-service solution partner—from R&D and consulting to innovative design, prototyping, manufacturing, decoration, and delivery. Hrastnik1860’s products are acclaimed for their perfect crystal shine and are entirely free of heavy metals. They range from traditional designs to innovative solutions that have won many prestigious awards. Vaider Group, has more than 160 years of expertise in glass and is a global partner in the development and manufacturing of world-class engineered glass products. The company is known for creating technically demanding bottles, primarily for the spirits industry, and is a full-service solution partner—from R&D and consulting to innovative design, prototyping, manufacturing, decoration, and delivery. Hrastnik1860’s products are acclaimed for their perfect crystal shine and are entirely free of heavy metals. They range from traditional designs to innovative solutions that have won many prestigious awards.
