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Ex Bacardi boss achieves first B Corp certified Tequila

19 August 2022 By Eloise Feilden

Former Bacardi CEO Mike Dolan has achieved B Corp certification for his Tequila brand Mijenta, the first of its kind to gain the eco-friendly accreditation.

Altos Planos Inc., producer of Mijenta Tequila, yesterday announces that it has received B Corp certification from non-profit organisation B Lab.

Mijenta, co-founded by ex Bacardi chief executive Mike Dolan, is the only Tequila producer to receive the recognition to date.

B Impact Assessment criteria measures an organisation’s social impact across categories including corporate governance, the environment, community, employees and customers, all of which the brand either met or exceeded.

Mijenta was also co-founded by Elise Som, who has a Masters in Sustainability from Harvard University and Parsons, and now heads up the company’s sustainability department.

“Community and sustainability lie at the heart of Mijenta’s mission, and we are thrilled that with this certification, B Lab has affirmed the significant focus we’ve placed on implementing our core values,” said Som.

“Through innovation, close collaboration with local suppliers and partnerships with likeminded organisations, we have worked from the outset to create a positive, lasting impact. For us, sustainability is about leaving a better world for our children, and we are excited to do even more as we continue to grow.”

Dolan and Som launched Mijenta Tequila in the US in September 2020 and the UK in June 2021. The brand was designed with sustainability in mind; Mijenta products are certified carbon neutral, using no herbicides or pesticides. Labels and note cards are created locally in Guadalajara from agave waste, and the company utilises eco-friendly packaging.

“Our goal when we founded Mijenta was not just to craft a great tequila, but to build a great brand and a great company centred around a strong ethos,” said Dolan, who is also lead investor of parent company Altos Planos.

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