In a research by the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable, it was found that on average, a 750 milliliter bottle of liquor produces 6.5 pounds of carbon dioxide on average, most of which comes from the glass packaging and distillation process. Significantly, producing a usual bottle of vodka could emit around 13 pounds of greenhouse gases.

However, most people, including drinkers, have become more sustainable now. In fact, according to recent studies, 85% of consumers globally are willing to pay more for sustainability as demand grows for alternatives that are environmentally friendly.

To meet the ongoing demand for sustainability and help combat climate change, Air Co., a New York-based company, launched the very first carbon negative vodka.

Carbon Negative Vodka

Vodka is traditionally produced by fermenting grains or other plant sources of carbohydrates or sugars — a carbon-emitting process. However, unlike the typical vodka that produces around 13 pounds of greenhouse gases, carbon negative vodka production removes a pound of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for every bottle produced. Dubbed as the “world’s most sustainable spirit,” it is made out of carbon dioxide that has either been captured directly from the air or at industrial facilities, and combined with hydrogen via electrolysis, a process by which electricity splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. These elements are then combined to create ethanol, a type of alcohol which, when mixed with water becomes vodka.

Other Benefits of Carbon Negative Vodka Production

  • No impurities

The traditional vodka production involves yeast, the fermentation process of which creates impurities like methanols and carbolic acids that may be difficult to remove through distillation. According to studies, incidence of methanol contamination of traditionally fermented alcoholic beverages has even been increasing globally, resulting in several deaths, from 20 to over 800 in 2014.

Unlike traditional production, however, the manufacture of carbon negative vodka skips the entire fermentation process. Rather than breaking down larger molecules that may produce a wash with high impurity content, two carbon dioxide molecules are instead connected together to produce ethanol, ensuring that there are almost no impurities in the drink.

  • Saves water

According to recent reports, the agricultural sector accounts for 70% of all freshwater withdrawals in the world on average. It may even be higher at times due to “consumptive water use” on the evapotranspiration of crops. However, as compared to traditional vodka production, no farming is needed to produce grains and other crops in the production of carbon negative vodka since it makes use of carbon dioxide to produce ethanol instead, saving water in the long term.

  • Requires less energy

The purification of ethanol involved in traditional vodka production uses a significant amount of energy. In fact, according to studies, the ethanol industry uses 53,956 BTUs per gallon on average for production. In the process of carbon negative vodka production, however, hydrogenation is instead used, a process which happens efficiently at room temperature without the need for stored or piped hydrogen, saving energy.

Source Your Chemicals Sustainably

To help in the reduction of carbon emissions in the atmosphere and to also minimize the use of natural resources in alcohol production, it is best to tie up with chemical distributors who source their products sustainably.

Reach out to California Chemical, one of the most sustainable chemical companies in California, for more information.

Leave a Reply