Bacardi In Puerto Rico Recognized With Wildlife Habitat Council Certification For Its Bat Conservation Work
Bacardi In Puerto Rico Recognized With Wildlife Habitat Council Certification For Its Bat Conservation Work
Recent news
Bacardi In Puerto Rico Recognized With Wildlife Habitat Council Certification For Its Bat Conservation Work
July 24, 2025
Hamilton, Bermuda – July 24, 2025 – Bacardi in Puerto Rico has achieved Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) Certification, powered by Tandem Global, recognizing its dedication to preserving Puerto Rico’s bat populations and educating the community about their ecological importance.
The bat is deeply embedded in the family-owned company’s 163-year history and conservation work to protect bat populations takes place at many Bacardi sites around the world. In Puerto Rico, Bacardi has launched a series of initiatives to educate employees, local communities, and visitors about the vital role bats play in the island’s ecosystem.
The program’s efforts include hosting the Puerto Rico Bat Festival in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Bat Conservation Program (PCMPR). The festival, which was attended by more than 500 people last year, includes educational talks from bat conservation experts, interactive workshops and educational exhibits. In 2024, Bacardi also opened a new space dedicated to educating the c. 150,000 annual visitors to the Casa BACARDÍ visitor experience about the importance of bats. Through its partnership with the PCMPR, Bacardi also helps engage the wider community in Puerto Rico through outreach events.
Protecting the local bat population is a real passion for us at Bacardi, and this WHC Certification is fantastic recognition of our success in sharing that passion and drive for action with others. From our own teams to the wider community across the island, we want to help foster a culture of environmental stewardship and play our part in protecting the planet for the future.”
Gregorio Frias, Sustainability Manager, Bacardi, based at the BACARDÍ rum distillery
Looking ahead, Bacardi plans to further its conservation efforts by funding new research equipment for the PCMPR, as well as reforesting a small patch of habitat near the front of the distillery which was damaged during recent hurricanes.
The Puerto Rico Site is recognized as meeting the strict requirements of WHC Certification. Companies achieving WHC Certification, like Bacardi, are environmental leaders, voluntarily managing their lands to support sustainable ecosystems and the communities that surround them.”
Margaret O’Gorman, Chief Executive Officer, Tandem Global
This is the fourth time the site has achieved this award. The largest premium rum distillery in the world and the home of the world’s most awarded rum, received the first WHC Certification ever presented to an organization in Puerto Rico in 2018 and as of today, remains the only organization to receive a WHC Certification on the island.
The BACARDĺ rum distillery joins other sites in the company’s portfolio in securing the WHC Certification. Both the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® distillery in the UK and the Bacardi Bottling Corporation site in Jacksonville, Florida, have earned WHC Certifications for their work in conservation.
For more on how Bacardi is protecting People & Planet, visit www.bacardilimited.com/CS.
About Bacardi Limited
Bacardi Limited, the world’s largest privately held international spirits company, produces, markets, and distributes spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, PATRÓN® tequila, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Scotch whisky, D’USSÉ® Cognac, ANGEL’S ENVY® American straight whiskey, and ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur. Founded more than 163 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs more than 8,000, 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. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
About Tandem Global
Tandem Global (formerly Wildlife Habitat Council and World Environment Center), provides the know-how and the network to move business and the environment forward, together. Across sectors and at all levels of its 100+ member organizations, Tandem Global works to facilitate long-term and lasting impact on all aspects of our natural world. Tandem Global connects leading thinking with practical solutions that positively impact climate, nature, and water. From field operations to boardrooms and beyond, corporate leaders turn to Tandem Global for impact strategies and resilient solutions that can support a better future. Tandem Global is headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA, with locations across the U.S., in Latin America and Munich, Germany. For more information visit tandemglobal.org.
