York Gin Historic Rebrand Has Sustainable Future & Massive Carbon Footprint Reduction

York Gin has launched a brand new range of bottles today - and the historical rebrand massively cuts their carbon footprint.

The company’s new bespoke Yorkshire-made bottles weigh 40% less than the originals, and travel 20 just miles rather than 600 from the previous manufacturer in France.

The bottles - made by Leeds-based, sustainable bottle manufacturer Allied Glass - are made from 90% recycled glass. They are 100% plastic free, with paper tamper seals and wood and cork stoppers.

The less angular shape, lighter weight and embossed pattern of York’s historic city walls, together with labels inspired by 18th Century gin makers create a decidedly archaic feel. York Gin’s motto is ‘History in the Tasting’.

The labels are made at Bradford specialist printers, The Label Makers.

The new bottles are the latest sustainable move by York Gin whose mission statement includes a commitment to using local materials wherever possible. It already uses neutral spirit made in North Yorkshire from grain grown wholly on Yorkshire farms. Yorkshire water is used in the dilution process. And York Gin's packaging is made in Yorkshire from sustainable sources.

Since launch, the company has used 100% green electricity and drives two emission-free, electric vehicles. York Gin also recycles all of its cardboard, glass and recyclable plastic waste.

Harry Cooke, York Gin co-founder and master distiller, said: ‘We’ve made a major investment in our bottles to make them more appealing, easier to hold and pour - and far more environmentally friendly.

‘As they’re made in Yorkshire, they have far fewer miles to travel than when they were manufactured in France. And they contain significantly less glass than our previous bottles. Both are huge leaps forward for reducing our carbon footprint. We are absolutely delighted with their look and feel - and they are so much greener!’

The bottles have a distinctly Georgian feel in the hand - harking back to the embossing of glasses prevalent at the time. The new labels are also a nod to gin’s history, taking as their inspiration classic brands like Booth's (established in the 1740s) whose front labels stretched onto the sides of their unique hexagonal bottles.

A single bottle design for the whole range ensures consistency, while individual labelling provides each of the six gins with its own identity.

The design work was undertaken by Neil McDonald at Glasgow’s Selected Works, a veteran designer in the drinks industry.