This summer, family run artisan gin brand Penrhos Spirits called Herefordshire fruit farmers and nationwide consumers together to help them save the raspberries and tackle food waste. Founders Charlie Turner and Dickie Williams, both hailing from a farming background, noticed the amount of perfectly imperfect fruit that would go to waste, unable to be sold to supermarkets. As such, Penrhos’ award-winning Wonky Raspberry Gin was born: a small-batch of the highest quality, made of wonky raspberries, grain spirit and natural water, all packaged in an 100% recycled aluminium bottle.
After this summer, Penrhos Spirits has now saved 52,000 of raspberries, with the help from multiple farms across Herefordshire and nationwide consumers shopping the Wonky Raspberry Gin at Sainsburys. Data from LEAF has shown that up to 20% of raspberries* go to waste every year, and with Penrhos Spirits calling for aid from local fruit farmers and nationwide consumers, the raspberries they have rescued have made over 4000 bottles of Wonky Raspberry Gin, and saved 1680 punnets from going to waste.
Penrhos Spirits has long been dedicated to creating not only a delicious product, but a sustainable one too. Last year they began a partnership with Oddbox, through which they created their ‘deliciously odd’ limited edition Cucumber and Apple Gin, made with wonky waste products rescued by Oddbox. Now increasing their efforts to reduce food wastage even more, Penrhos Spirits continues to pave the way in the production of environmentally friendly spirits.
But, just because the summer is over, doesn’t mean their efforts for sustainability are slowing down. For next year, Penrhos Spirits is aiming to save even more raspberries, and they continue to pave the path for all alcohol brands, big and small, to rehome their spirits in more sustainable packaging, with Penrhos’ 100% recycled aluminum bottles improving their carbon footprint by 91%.
*Data taken from 2021 Leaf Survey carried out across three farms during 2020 harvest
