The ClimateHound Pack: Montanya Distillers
The breathtaking landscape surrounding Montanya Distillers is a constant reminder of why sustainability matters to the company. The pristine mountains of Crested Butte, Colorado, provide the snowmelt that forms the foundation of their rums, and a commitment to preserving the natural world runs through every stage of their process, from sourcing American-grown sugar cane that shortens their supply chain, to using Cradle-to-Cradle certified glass bottles that minimize environmental impact. Founded by Karen Hoskin in 2008, the woman-owned company stepped up to become the world’s first B Corp rum distillery a decade later. With new leadership as of 2024, they’ve doubled down on their values-driven business practices by certifying as carbon neutral with ClimateHound.
"The best way to create maximum impact is by aligning with a climate company that knows the complex considerations in our day-to-day processes."
“We worked with ClimateHound to ensure our operations continue to align with our efforts to secure a more sustainable future,” says Megan Campbell, COO, head distiller, and one of the new owners. “We believe that the best possible way to create the maximum impact is by aligning with a climate company that specifically serves our F&B industry and knows the complex considerations at hand in our day-to-day processes.”
Working with ClimateHound has helped Campbell and her co-owners, Chief Experience Officer Renée Newton and Chief Marketing Officer Sean W. Richards, to not only measure their carbon footprint, but also understand changes year-over-year and the impact of initiatives such as diverting more waste to composting and recycling. That’s helpful for business planning, recertifying as a B Corp and producing an annual impact report. “The partnership with ClimateHound helped our company identify and achieve targets inline with global standards and ClimateHound’s metrics allowed me to complete our B Corp Environment section with ease and peace of mind,” says Campbell.
Simplifying their carbon footprint management gives the Montanya team more time to create their exceptional spirits, like the company’s new sweet-and-spicy pineapple habanero rum. They can also focus on building an inclusive company culture and connecting with their community through events at their distillery and their tasting room in downtown Crested Butte. ClimateHound CEO Palmer Fox says, “It’s really exciting to partner with a distiller that shares so many of our own values, and we’re proud that Montanya Rum will carry our carbon neutral certification in the years to come.”