Q & A
Interview :
Nicolas Beckers , CEO of Americas , Rémy Cointreau
by KYLE SWARTZ
Sustainability remains much on the mind of alcohol companies , as they keep an eco-conscious eye on protecting the future of the industry . This includes Rémy Cointreau , whose CEO of Americas , Nicolas Beckers , recently spoke to the Beverage Information Group on the subject .
BIG : WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT THAT COMPANIES LIKE RÉMY COINTREAU COMMIT TO SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES ? Nicolas Beckers : We all have a role to play in ensuring that the spirits we enjoy are produced in a way that takes care of the land and people in order to offer clients exceptional spirits . At Remy Cointreau , we firmly believe that the fight against climate change is essential to preserve our unique terroirs and deliver quality products . We are seeing a growing demand for more qualitative spirits and consumptions shifting to ‘ Drink Less but Better ’, which matches our long-term value strategy .
BIG : WHAT SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IS REMY CURRENTLY COMMITTED TO ? NB : Rémy Cointreau ’ s ambition remains at the forefront of this changing climate and consumer demands for quality spirits , by focusing mainly on three pillars : Speeding up the transition to agroecology in our regions :
100 % of our estates from Remy Martin Cognac to Cointreau to the Botanist Gin are currently converting to agroecology
It doesn ’ t stop with us ; 100 % of our direct partners will be trained in agroecology . To date , 79 % of all our agricultural suppliers are engaged in the certification process ; goal of 100 % by 2025 .
Rémy Cointreau Americas partnered with WWF Mexico to protect and regenerate the Monarch butterfly in the Americas . The role of butterflies is critical as it serves as indicators of ecosystem health . Acting for our people and communities :
Establishing well-being at work , promoting team diversity and ensuring accountable and engaged governance .
Guaranteeing the transmission of our ancestral savoir-faire and developing a culture of continuous training among our employees .
Engaging with our partners and communities : sharing our values and value creation . One such example is our Cosmo for a Cause initiative . A charitable program created by Cointreau that encourages consumers to celebrate the holiday season through cocktails while giving back to their local bar and restaurant communities . Cointreau donated a portion of sales up to $ 100,000 to the Independent Restaurant Coalition ( IRC ) for every order of a Cosmopolitan cocktail at participating restaurants and bars
COMMITTING OVER TIME :
Rémy Cointreau ’ s footprint : 0.5 kg . CO2 per € of profit vs . 4 to 5 kg . Food & Beverage and 6 kg . Global Consumer Goods ; this is due to our actions initiated already more than since 10 years ago .
Currently 79 % of our bottles are sold without packaging . We have worked to eliminate gift boxes to save raw materials and ultimately reduce carbon footprint
Rémy Cointreau is also setting precedent with packaging , aiming to eliminate secondary packaging and gift boxes that act as an unnecessary layer around the product . In doing so , we save raw materials and ultimately reduce our carbon footprint . In March 2024 , 79 % of the group ’ s bottles had no secondary packaging , compared to 21 % in 2019 . We are targeting 85 % for 2025 . While Telmont , Cointreau or Belle de Brillet no longer use them , the high-end brands such as Rémy Martin LOUIS XIII still use them , but have innovated with a cellulose box , made of recycled and recyclable materials
Rémy Cointreau also renewed its partnership with ecoSPIRITS through a global licensing agreement , dedicated to the reduction of glass bottle usage . Through this partnership , Rémy Cointreau has achieved a CO2 reduction of over 80 % per bottle and a packaging reduction of 90 % on the scope .
BIG : WHAT ’ S NEXT FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AT REMY ? NB : Our goal continues to be reducing our carbon emissions and achieving ‘ Net Zero ’ by 2050 .
For us , our next steps continue to ladder into this goal . We are working with our partners to sustainably improve , and even transform , our practices . We are reducing the energy consumption of our production sites and switching our distilleries to renewable energies .
We are rethinking the design of our bottles to reduce their impact and encourage new modes of consumption . We are optimizing our flows , favoring the most environmentally friendly modes of transport and investing in those of the future .
4 2024 Sustainability Guide