Bermuda-based Bacardi Ltd. has been certified as operating in accordance with the world's most recognised standards for quality, environment, and health and safety.

The largest privately held spirits company in the world is the first of its kind to achieve certification under ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 for its global production facilities, putting the company among an elite group of the world's best-run companies.

"As the only major spirits company to be awarded these certifications globally, I believe this underlines our commitment to excellence in world-class operations," said Séamus McBride, president and CEO of Bacardi.

"We are in constant pursuit of greater benefits for our consumers, customers, employees and the environment and work continuously to build trust in the company."

Bacardi began its quest to achieve 'Triple Crown' certification three years ago for its production facilities and embraced the concept of "continuous improvement" which lies at the heart of the ISO and OHSAS systems.

Each management and operational process is audited, cross-checked and certified annually by independent auditors accredited to certify to the ISO and OHSAS standards. In addition, Bacardi implemented cross-functional review teams to assess actions globally to maintain and improve upon the standards.

"Questioning accepted ways of doing things and finding innovative solutions are consistent with Bacardi's long-held value to strive for excellence in everything we do," said Jon Grey, vice-president of global operations for Bacardi.

"With these certifications, consumers can be even more confident they are enjoying the highest quality spirits brands available from a company which measurably shows it cares both about its employees and a cleaner environment."

The certification recognises a number of quality and environmental benefits from using best practice in quality by routinely working with an independent third-party to measure the quality of its products in 24 cities in 12 different countries around the world to a four percent reduction in total water used to manufacture its products from the previous year, and a 6.1 percent reduction in total energy usage in the fiscal year 2009 compared to the previous year.

In addition, the company reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 9.2 percent in fiscal 2009 versus the prior year as well as a three-year reduction of 14.5 percent, while 92.5 percent of operational waste at its Pessione facility in Italy is recycled, including solids such as paper, wood, glass, cartons, metal and plastic, and lost time accident rate has also been cut from 13.1 to 4.9 per million worked hours - a 63 percent decrease over the past three-and-half years.

-- by Alex Wright, The Royal Gazette, Bermuda, http://www.royalgazette.com/rg/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7d9c22f30030006§ionId=65