In the race for sustainability, many tequila brands are thinking outside of the box. Danny Neeson and Adam Millman, co-founders of De Nada Tequila were always focused on finding ways to marry their vision of an authentic product made with quality ingredients and green practices. “As a company, our goal is to be as sustainable as possible,” says Millman who also serves as Chief Executive Officer of De Nada Tequila. “Danny and I are always trying to find new ways to improve our environmental impact, and becoming certified carbon neutral was a great first step but we knew there was more we could do.”
New aluminum packaging for De Nada Tequila’s Blanco
De Nada, which translates to “you’re welcome,” was started with this ethos at its core. “In the spirits industry, sustainability should not just be a trend; it should be an expectation. Consumers are increasingly aware of environmental issues and are choosing brands that prioritize sustainability.” Says Neeson who also serves as President of the awarded spirits brand.
For a tequila that began with a love of the agave spirit itself, Neeson and Millman knew that they needed to find a partner with similar values. They eventually connected with 5th generation distillers at Vivanco estate set in the Highlands of Jalisco. The Vivanco family use authentic methods of production including carefully sourced estate grown 100% Blue Weber agaves and traditional brick oven roasting. The partnership between the Vivanco family and the De Nada founders is a shared vision of quality, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Which means that their tequilas celebrate the agave with no added sugars, coloring or other additives. Even the De Nada labels are made using old agave fibers.
“Working with De Nada Tequila has been the ultimate collaboration of quality and innovation. We share the same philosophy and ways of working which is important to our success,” says Cesar Vivanco of NOM 1414, Feliciano Vivanco y Asociados.
De Nada Co-Founders Danny Neeson & Adam Millman
Transparency is key when it comes to sustainability. Everything from agave growth to the harvest to the NOM matters. So, what is a NOM? “A NOM is the 4-digit code found on the back of all tequila bottles that identifies the distillery that produces that tequila.” Vivanco explains. “Understanding a NOM can help consumers further assess the quality of the tequila they are drinking. If the NOM is reputable and known to not use additives, chances are the quality is higher than NOM’s that are hard to identify or are known to produce tequila with additives and tequila made with diffusers.”
Sites like Tequila Matchmaker are a great tool for consumers to research NOM’s and ensure transparency. Packaging is a hot topic in the spirits industry, not limited to sustainability, with a litany of problems from supply chain issues to the weight of the bottles at the center of the conversation. Neeson and Millman realized that those challenges could become opportunities. They wanted a super light bottle with a tight fitting lid and made from a material that could be used over and over again.
“When Danny and Adam discussed creating the most eco-friendly bottle in the alcohol industry, it reaffirmed the brand’s commitment to high standards. While the bottle is getting an upgrade, the liquid will remain consistent in its premium taste and quality.” Affirmed The and Cesar Vivanco from the distillery team.
Sustainable aluminum packaging from De Nada Tequila
The first step was to say good bye to glass. De Nada’s new bottle is made entirely of aluminum. “By adopting aluminum bottles, we are meeting this demand and leading by example in our industry. Ultimately, sustainability isn’t just about making a product; it’s about making a difference. It’s about building a brand that helps preserve our planet for generations to come,” says Neeson.
A cap made from wood and cork from well-known sustainable producer Amorim completes the upgrade. The pros are staggering. Aluminum is far more sustainable than glass with about 75% of all aluminum in use having already been recycled. “Because of this, the process of creating aluminum is less common, which inherently makes it a sustainable metal option. In addition to this, aluminum is significantly lighter than glass. Because of its lighter weight, less carbon emissions are seen throughout all shipping of aluminum bottles when compared to glass,” the De Nada team confirmed.
“Aluminum is infinitely recyclable, unlike glass and some other alternative packaging coming to market.” Affirms Millman. “As a company, it’s imperative to us to focus continually on sustainability efforts.”
