Buen Vato, the world’s first tequila in a cardboard container – shaped as a bottle and made from 94 per cent recycled material – will be launched in Europe in July 2022, starting in the Swedish market. 

Tequila Buen Vato is on a mission to shake-up the drinks industry by investing in sustainable manufacturing, transportation processes and CSR initiatives.

The brand’s revolutionary bottle is lighter to transport and offers major CO2 reduction in comparison to traditional industry methods. 

Government-owned Swedish monopoly Systembolaget (the only retail chain in Sweden that can legally sell alcohol above 3.5% ABV for takeaway consumption) will be the first retailer in the world to launch and sell this unique product. 

Buen Vato was officially unveiled at the recently concluded ProWein fair in Germany.

Shaking up the spirits industry

Buen Vato is a product of AliasSmith AB, a company that has invested in and developed Mexican brands in Europe for nearly two decades. 

In 2019, it spent almost 1,500 hours reshaping the processes and physical structure of one of its best providers, and took part in The Swedish Beverage Industry’s Climate Initiative (DKI) with the goal of reducing the industry’s carbon footprint. Subsequently, the company decided to invest in projects with the lowest possible negative impact and inspire the industry to do better.

“The drinks industry needs a shake-up, and sustainability needs to be placed at the heart of this transformation. That’s why we’ve launched Buen Vato,” explained Claes Puebla Smith, CEO of AliasSmith. “The cardboard bottle is just the start, Buen Vato will constantly redesign the production, packaging and business model in order to reach perfect sustainability.”

“It’s time for a change where conscious consumers buy the nice cardboard bottles and, if they wish to, pour their tequila into a crystal bottle at home. Why continue polluting so much to enjoy a tequila?” says Omar Corona, Mexican environmental engineer and head of the pollution reduction program of AliasSmith.

The spirit is produced in small batches in Amatitán Jalisco, Mexico. AliasSmith AB is committed to working with its producers to achieve higher standards of sustainability and CSR.  

“We’re very proud of the CSR projects we’re involved with in Mexico, which improve the lives of the employees and their families. We want the world to join us by raising a glass and say, ‘Here’s to Change’,” explains Mayra Zapata, Head of CSR and Comms at AliasSmith AB. 

Buen Vato is currently in negotiation with distributors in the UK, Italy, France and Spain.