Caribbean Rum Producers Release First Sustainability Report in Jamaica

The West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers’ Association has released its first Sustainability in the Caribbean Rum Industry Report, unveiling the publication yesterday during a reception at the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites in Jamaica.

The launch formed part of WIRSPA’s Annual General Meeting programme for the year. The schedule ended with a cocktail reception jointly hosted by Spirits Pool Association Limited, the organisation’s Jamaican affiliate.

WIRSPA said the report is designed to show the scale of investment and on-the-ground work now under way among Caribbean rum producers as they seek to lessen environmental harm, use resources more efficiently and build stronger long-term resilience across the industry.

The publication combines sector-wide analysis with case studies from major rum producers around the Caribbean. It outlines how sustainability is being worked into the production of the region’s best-known spirit, covering renewable energy, greenhouse gas reduction, water stewardship, circular economy projects, sustainable packaging and climate readiness.

Examples in the report come from producers in Barbados, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad & Tobago. WIRSPA said the cases show how companies of different sizes and operating in different environments are putting sustainability measures into practice.

Speaking at the launch, WIRSPA Chairman Clement “Jimmy” Lawrence said: “The Caribbean rum industry has always been defined by resilience and ingenuity. Today, those same qualities are guiding us through one of the most important transitions in our history. Sustainability is no longer an aspiration; it is embedded in how we think about growth, competitiveness and long-term viability.”

The report points to measurable gains already being made across the sector. These include large investments in solar power, biomass and biogas, water recycling and recovery systems, emissions-cutting programmes, waste-to-energy initiatives and more sustainable agricultural methods.

Among the producers highlighted are companies that have reached carbon neutrality, achieved verified carbon-negative production, and recorded major declines in the water and energy used in their operations. The report also cites businesses turning production by-products into renewable energy and agricultural inputs.

WIRSPA noted that many Caribbean rum companies operate mainly in small island and developing states, where climate change, unreliable energy supply and limited resources create special pressures. The report presents sustainability as a commercial necessity, helping producers raise efficiency, reduce operating risks, improve resilience and respond to changing market demands.

Lawrence said the publication is meant to do more than present the industry’s progress. It is also intended to promote cooperation and ongoing improvement among producers.

“The strides already being made are significant, but they are only the beginning. Through shared learning, regional cooperation and engagement with governments and international partners, we are accelerating progress and building a more resilient future for Caribbean rum,” he said.

The report links the sector’s work to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It also sets out how Caribbean rum makers are supporting climate action, clean energy, responsible production, water stewardship and biodiversity protection.

WIRSPA said the launch is a major step for the association and its members as they continue positioning Authentic Caribbean Rum as a category built on heritage, quality and innovation, while also showing commitment to sustainable production.