What if every sip of rum could help fight climate change? In this episode of Balancing the Future, hosts Chai Nussbaumer and Micah Schweizer sit down with Russ Wakeham, chemist and co-founder of Two Drifters Distillery, offering the UK's most sustainable rum. From day one, Russ and his wife Gemma built their Devon-based distillery around a bold mission: demonstrating profitability and sustainability can move together.
With a background in carbon capture and storage research, Russ brings a scientist’s perspective to the world of spirits. He explains how the distillation process works, the hidden carbon costs of global supply chains, and why packaging choices from heavy glass bottles to lightweight aluminum have major climate impacts. More importantly, he shares how Two Drifters has embedded carbon removal into its business model, using innovative direct air capture and lifecycle analysis to eliminate more CO2 than the distillery produces.
This episode breaks down key concepts like Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, showing how businesses can track and reduce their footprints across every stage of production and distribution. Russ also reveals the challenges of scaling a sustainable business in an industry that often prioritizes short-term profit, and why building sustainability into a company’s DNA from the very beginning is crucial.
Join us as we explore how chemistry, entrepreneurship, and vision come together to turn rum into a powerful conversation starter for climate action and a blueprint for how any business can drive a more sustainable future.
Listen to the episode now on your favorite streaming platform: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music.
Co-founder Two Drifters Distillery
Russ Wakeham blends his chemistry expertise in carbon capture with a passion for sustainability and rum. Together with his wife Gemma, he’s pioneering the world’s first carbon-negative rum, proving that exceptional spirits can inspire meaningful conversations and action about climate change and a more sustainable future.
