Bringing Glass Production Closer to Home
Devoted Buchi fans often reach out to us to ask about recycling options for their empty glass kombucha and kefir bottles. A bottle a day adds up fast! This confirms something we already knew - the environmental impact of our business practices matters to our customers as much as it matters to us. For Buchi, deepening our commitment to sustainability has meant focusing not only on what happens to the bottle after the fermented beverage inside is gone, but also on how the bottle itself is made.
For years, our kombucha and kefir bottles were manufactured in China and Thailand. They spent as many as 60 days crossing the ocean, traveling 12,000 nautical miles - 13,800 land miles - to get to us. In 2019, motivated to reduce our carbon footprint and make good on our sustainability mission, we redirected our business to a domestic manufacturer - with 98% of our bottles now coming not only from the US, but from North Carolina – our home state.
This shift didn’t just allow us to reinvest in the state we call home. By purchasing bottles made primarily in NC and transporting them by truck, we’re projecting we’ll reduce our carbon emissions by 85% per year! Now, consider that according to the current trajectory, maritime shipping emissions are expected to rise 35% to 210% by 2050. Even as Buchi continues to grow, we’ll be contributing significantly less to the greenhouse gasses emitted during ocean freight transport. We are so proud to pour our hearts, souls, and brews into bottles made by people right here in North Carolina. Every single bottle of Buchi you drink comes from a wonderful place!
Learn about other ways we're being proactive and sustainable.
