Hello everyone! I'm Hannah Caldwell, the B Keeper here at Straightaway Cocktails. For those of you who are saying, “Wow, Straightaway Cocktails have their own personal bee keeper!” I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. I'm not only respectfully afraid of bees, but I'm also the person in charge of keeping our company aligned with our B Corp Certification and our values. 

As we approach Earth Day, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on our commitment to sustainability and share some of the impactful work we've been doing as a 1% for the Planet and B Corp Certified company.

Straightaway Cocktails, alongside other 1% for the Planet and B Corp Certified companies (B1 Companies, if you will), is committed to creating a business model that generates positive impacts for our communities and for our planet. Everyday we are working and setting goals to close the gap between our negative and positive impacts. 

We are committed to supporting organizations that are working to study, preserve, and protect our planet. In 2024, as part of our 1% for the Planet membership we were proud to donate over $60k to important social and environmental organizations. Our donations were tied to sales of specific products: $1 for every bottle of Accompani Coffee Liqueur, $2 for every case of Espresso Martini and Bee's Knees (donated to the Oregon Bee Project), and $2 for every case of Cascade Spritz (donated to Friends of Trees). 

We've had the privilege of partnering with amazing organizations like Oregon Wild, SOLVE, and Elakha Alliance, among many others. These groups are doing incredible work in preserving our natural environment, and we're honored to support their missions.

We recognize that being a consumable goods company inherently means we contribute to waste. We're committed to minimizing our environmental footprint and striving towards a more circular economy. This includes efforts like using printed and easily recyclable cans, reusing cardboard, plastic, and wooden pallets when and wherever possible. We are continuously exploring innovative solutions to reduce waste throughout our production and distribution processes. 

Highlights also include relocating to a more energy-efficient and modern manufacturing facility, sourcing materials locally as much as possible, and donating used metal drums to beekeepers to support honey production.

Looking ahead to 2025, we have some exciting initiatives planned regarding engagement with our local community. We have recently started a partnership with Oregon Business for Climate, an organization and cooperative of other businesses in Oregon who are keeping up with local policy relating to environmental policy making and changing. 

We are also working to include YOU! We would love to see familiar faces working beside us to reach for a better future for everyone. All of the links in this blog post will lead you directly to the listed organization we have worked with this last year. I encourage everyone to explore their pages, learn about their missions and impact, and maybe if you so choose, you can give back with us through donation or through volunteering opportunities! 

Thank you for being a part of our journey towards a more sustainable future. Happy Earth Day!