Founded by friends Ed Faulkner and Ivo Devereux, the London-based company produces a "climate-positive" vodka and is one of the few B Corp-certified brands in the spirits sector. Their innovative approach to reducing their environmental impact includes planting a tree for every bottle sold, which significantly offsets the carbon emissions generated during production. Each tree can absorb up to 1.5 tonnes of COâ‚‚ over its lifetime, effectively making each bottle "carbon positive" in its ecological footprint.
Beyond these practical measures, Sapling Spirits has engaged with customers through their unique packaging, which includes a code on each bottle detailing the tree planted for that specific purchase. This transparency helps connect consumers directly to the brand's reforestation efforts, fostering engagement and education about climate impact through an interactive product experience. Through this model, Sapling Spirits positions itself not only as a sustainable product but also as a socially responsible brand that encourages eco-friendly practices in everyday activities, such as enjoying a drink with friends
Sustainability
Sapling Spirits employs several strategies to enhance sustainability. First, they locally source ingredients and use 100% British wheat, reducing transport emissions associated with importing materials. They have also pioneered a switch from traditional glass to fully recyclable aluminum bottles, a material that is both lighter and easier to recycle, resulting in lower emissions during transportation and a reduced environmental impact of packaging. This decision aligns with the brand's goals to reduce waste and encourage circular economy practices in an industry that typically relies heavily on energy-intensive glass production.
The company’s story underscores how brand values and business models can align to promote environmental stewardship while offering a quality product, setting an example for others in the spirits industry. By combining their passion for reforestation and climate action with an innovative approach to product design and marketing, Sapling Spirits has crafted a model that balances profitability with a strong ecological commitment, inspiring similar brands to adopt more sustainable practices.
Refill pouches
Sapling Spirits offers refill pouches for their climate-positive vodka and gin, which aim to cut down on packaging waste and reduce the brand's environmental impact. These pouches are designed to be used with existing Sapling glass bottles, allowing customers to refill and reuse instead of purchasing new bottles. Poucher produced 70cl pouches with a corner spout for easy pouring. The use of refill pouches eliminates the need for glass in additional purchases, reducing Sapling's carbon footprint by approximately 25% compared to traditional bottle purchases. Furthermore, after use, consumers can send the pouches back for recycling, making it easier to minimize household waste and contribute to the circular economy​.
The refill pouches align with Sapling's sustainable mission and are part of broader industry efforts to offer eco-friendly packaging. Sapling’s unique model appeals to environmentally conscious consumers who appreciate lower-waste alternatives in premium spirits, a category where refill options are still relatively new. Additionally, like all Sapling products, each refill supports the brand’s reforestation initiatives: for every bottle, or pouch refill, a tree is planted, contributing to carbon offset efforts and supporting local ecosystems​.
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