Elephant Gin's Conservation Efforts
Welcome to today’s episode. I’m your host Carlos Garcia and today we will explore a company dedicated to honoring their brand name through conservation and sustainability. We live in a world where climate change is pushing species to migrate and ecosystems to deteriorate, but as grim as that continues to be there are glimmers of hope, inspiration, and action. Today I’ll bring you the story of Elephant Gin. A brand born out of inspiration for the conservation of the African Elephant and the classic South African cocktail, the ‘sundowner’. Elephant gin is not a gin for elephants but rather an homage to the largest land mammals in our planet that of course like many other of our species are currently endangered but rather a brand whose dedication to sustainability and the environment is very inspiring. In today’s episode, we’ll discuss how the founders of Elephant Gin were inspired in their trips through Kenya and South Africa to build a brand with a mission to protect such a majestic creature like the African Elephant and also make a sustainable product like their gin.
Elephant Gin’s Sustainable Practices
It’s been quite exciting to find brands that are not just sustainable, environmentally friendly, or even conservationists but also are known for their great quality products. While I’m just at episode three, I have quite the list of brands I want to talk about for their sustainable and environmentally friendly efforts and while Elephant Gin is one of the most recent companies I found, I was very excited to push this one up to be episode three. While I can’t attest to how great their Gin is because of where I live, it’s clear from their website that it’s great gin. It’s very motivating to buy from environmentally conscious brands that pledge to give back and that can put their money where their mouth is but I don’t think people give 5 stars to a product just because the brand is sustainable. That being said, when you check out their website, elephant-gin.com, there isn’t a single product of theirs that does not have 5 star reviews. They also have a dedicated section in their site where clients share what they bought and their thoughts on the products.
But other than creating 5-star rated Gin products, they went further above than just paying homage to the inspiration of their brand name. In the website their inspiration story is no more than 4 sentences long. The founders are straight to the point when it comes to what moved them in their travels through South Africa and Kenya, Elephants and the classic South African ‘Sundowner’ drink. In that same 4 sentence section they also tell the customer straight up how they donate either 15% of bottle profits or 2% of revenue, depending on whichever is higher, to elephant conservation projects. Plus, they also take their initiatives for environmental friendliness further by creating sustainable products with the use of natural, recyclable and plastic free materials.
Supporting Conservation Projects
Let’s discuss these initiatives and their impact one by one. Like the founders of Elephant Gin shared in their website. Their visit through South Africa and Kenya brought more than interesting stories, it drafted on them a vision to create a sustainable product that could enable them to help conservation efforts of the African Elephant. They have a similar pledge to our last week’s sustainable star, ‘Will & Bear’, where they both donate 2% of their sales to non-profits. In this case, Elephant Gin does it through conversation projects or organizations from South Africa. The founders also share that if 15% of bottle profits are higher than 2% of their revenue then that’s what would be going to their efforts to help enable the conservation of this large land mammal. While their products are still not found in every country in the world they do have presence in every continent. That being said, the owners and founders of Elephant Gin, plus any other person part of their organization, can proudly share in their website that they’ve donated over €1,000,000 to projects like David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Big Life Foundation’s Ranger Club, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and Space For Elephants Foundation. Elephant Gin has a page dedicated to their conservation projects where they showcase proudly, as they should, their efforts to aid in this constant struggle. The website is elephantginfoundation.org, I’ll leave it in the show notes in case you want to check them out. Plus they also have a page on that website where organizations or charities that want to partner with them can submit for a grant.
But while over a million euros is a good looking number, how might that look in terms of aid? Well the Elephant Gin Foundation page shares some of these very motivating stats in their website. For example, how they’ve been an active supporter of the Big Life Foundation’s ranger club, having donated over 620,000 euros they enabled the salaries of 45 anti-poaching rangers, plus equipment like tents, rucksacks, sleeping bags and mosquito nets. This allows the rangers to continue protecting African Elephants from the constant threat of poaching. Meanwhile, they’ve also been partners with The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust since 2017 where they have donated over 57,000 euros fostering 25 orphaned elephants. These young elephants, rescued in some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives, were nurtured and raised until they could safely return to their natural habitats. To put this into perspective, that’s akin to giving a second chance to an entire classroom of students—except these students grow up to roam the vast African savannah, contributing to their ecosystems in vital ways. Through their actions, Elephant Gin has demonstrated how a business rooted in sustainability can go beyond symbolic gestures, turning profits into real-world conservation impacts. These aren’t just numbers; they represent lives saved, ecosystems protected, and the promise of a thriving future for the majestic African elephant. It’s clear that Elephant Gin’s efforts are more than just a marketing strategy—they’re a blueprint for how businesses can take active roles in safeguarding our planet. Additionally, Elephant Gin also partnered with the Wild Tomorrow Fund to support the Wildlife Corridor project in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This initiative aimed to purchase and protect 1,171 acres (474 hectares) of critical land known as Mfuleni. This area is pivotal in connecting the Mun-Ya-Wana Conservancy with the UNESCO World Heritage iSimangaliso Wetland Park, creating a vital corridor for wildlife movement. With a contribution of €10,000, they helped secure this land, expanding habitats and increasing the region’s carrying capacity for threatened species like elephants, rhinos, and lions.
Eco-Friendly Packaging
Elephant Gin’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond their desire to protect the African elephant, they also focus on using environmentally friendly materials for their bottles, avoiding plastic and giving priority to natural materials. Each bottle of Elephant Gin is crafted with 100% recyclable glass, sealed with natural cork, and free of plastic. Their thoughtful approach not only reflects their brand ethos but also addresses a pressing global crisis: the impact of plastic pollution on ecosystems. Plastic waste has become one of the most significant environmental challenges of our time. According to the EPA, more than 1,500 marine and terrestrial species are known to ingest or become entangled in plastic, leading to injury or death. For instance, plastic pollution in Lake Ontario contributes to the 22 million pounds of garbage entering the Great Lakes annually, harming aquatic wildlife and leaching toxic chemicals into ecosystems as it breaks down. Globally, the production and lifecycle of plastics are responsible for 3.4% of greenhouse gas emissions, with this number expected to double by 2060 without intervention. These staggering figures underscore the urgency for sustainable practices, like those adopted by Elephant Gin, to mitigate the environmental harm caused by plastic.
But Elephant Gin doesn’t stop at using sustainable materials. They infuse their bottles with a touch of artistry and purpose. Each label is handwritten by a calligrapher and features the name of a tusker or an elephant currently under the care of their partner conservation foundations. This attention to detail ensures that every bottle tells a story, reminding customers of the cause they support with each purchase. Beyond their eco-conscious packaging, Elephant Gin also offers custom personalized bottles, allowing customers to combine sustainability with a unique touch. By aligning their product design with their environmental mission, Elephant Gin sets a compelling example of how businesses can integrate sustainability into their operations without compromising on quality or aesthetics. Every aspect of their product, from the natural cork to the recyclable glass, reflects a commitment to a healthier planet. Through these choices, they not only reduce their carbon footprint but also inspire others to reimagine what eco-friendly business practices can achieve.
Conservation Impact in Numbers
Coming across Elephant Gin in my research path was a breath of fresh air. In a moment in our lives when looking at news where animals are just dying because of abrupt climate shifts in their environment has become a regular thing, it’s bittersweet to find companies that are trying to conserve species, educate, and restore habitats through important conservation organizations. Just a couple of days ago, several news outlets, including The Guardian, reported that hundreds of elephants were found dead due to climate-induced poisoning. The incident occurred in Botswana’s Okavango Delta in 2020, where over 350 elephants died mysteriously, sparking global concern.
The cause was eventually attributed to toxic blooms of blue-green algae in watering holes—an alarming consequence of the climate crisis. This event highlighted a grim reality: as the planet heats up, harmful algal blooms are becoming more frequent and intense, leaving wildlife with no choice but to consume poisoned water. It wasn’t just the sheer number of elephants that shocked conservationists but also the implications of such mass die-offs becoming more common. Similar events, such as the deaths of 200,000 saiga antelopes in Kazakhstan in 2015 due to climate-linked bacterial infections, underscore a disturbing trend of climate-induced diseases threatening biodiversity.
This conservation disaster is a sobering reminder of the interconnectedness between climate change and wildlife survival. For Elephant Gin, their dedication to elephant conservation is not just a noble gesture—it is a critical intervention against an increasingly hostile world for these magnificent creatures. Supporting organizations that restore habitats and fund anti-poaching efforts isn’t just about keeping elephants alive today; it’s about ensuring their resilience against a climate-altered tomorrow. Stories like these amplify the urgency of Elephant Gin’s mission and make their contributions all the more vital in safeguarding species from the cascading effects of a warming planet.
The Bigger Picture: Climate Change and Wildlife Survival
But why is it important to highlight the incredible initiatives and achievements of organizations like Elephant Gin? Because the stakes couldn’t be higher. Poaching remains one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, driving iconic species like the African elephant and rhino closer to extinction. Between 2014 and 2017, over 100,000 elephants were killed for ivory—a number that underscores the urgency of conservation efforts. Elephant Gin understands this all too well, which is why they’ve embedded a commitment to conservation into their business model. Through their pledge to donate 2% of their sales—or 15% of bottle profits, whichever is higher—to non-profits, they actively support organizations dedicated to protecting wildlife and combating poaching.
Why Businesses Like Elephant Gin Matter
Their contributions are far from symbolic. Elephant Gin has donated over €620,000 to the Big Life Foundation, directly funding the salaries of 45 anti-poaching rangers and equipping them with essential tools like tents, sleeping bags, and mosquito nets. These resources empower rangers to defend wildlife from the constant threat of poachers, but the risks they face are staggering. Nearly 600 rangers in Africa were killed by poachers between 2009 and 2016, with at least 170 losing their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park alone over the past two decades. These men and women stand on the frontlines of conservation, battling not only poachers but also armed militia groups that traffic ivory to fund their operations. Poaching’s ripple effects extend far beyond wildlife, entangling itself with corruption, money laundering, and other organized crimes, making the work of these rangers both vital and perilous.
Conclusion
Thank you for joining me in this third episode of Sustainable Stars. I hope you enjoyed learning about how Elephant Gin has turned a passion for wildlife into a business dedicated to real-world conservation. From their beautifully crafted, plastic-free bottles to their impactful donations supporting anti-poaching rangers and fostering orphaned elephants, Elephant Gin is proof that businesses can create positive change while delivering exceptional products.
In an era where poaching, habitat loss, and climate change threaten countless species, Elephant Gin stands out as a revolutionary brand, actively working to protect biodiversity and support the people on the frontlines of conservation. By embedding sustainability into their business model, they offer hope and inspiration in the fight to protect some of our planet’s most vulnerable wildlife.
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others who care about sustainability or who might appreciate how a great bottle of gin can make a difference. While we can’t change everyone’s buying habits overnight, we can encourage thoughtful choices that prioritize the planet. And if they’re in the market for a world-class gin, why not recommend one that’s helping to secure the future of the African elephant?
Until next time, keep thinking about how we can all play a role in restoring our world, one small action at a time.
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