When Kendall Jenner launched 818 Tequila, she had a number of goals in mind. First, she wanted to offer something delicious — tequila had always been a part of her adult life, so she wanted her tequila to reflect the flavors she most loves in tequila. But then she also wanted the project to reflect her values: protecting the planet and preserving community.

Those values are reflected in the tequila itself: The 818 distillery runs on biomass and solar power, which means a reduced carbon footprint. And that biomass is largely comprised of agave fibers left over from the production process, which results in less waste going into the ground.

But that’s not the only use of those leftover agave fibers. They’re married with another byproduct of tequila production — the waste liquid called vinasse — to become key ingredients to the production of adobes.

818 Tequila invited SACRED to partner with them to make those adobes as part of our community-support efforts in the rural Mexican communities where heritage agave spirits are made. They nominated us for nonprofit membership in 1% for the Planet, then pledged a portion of their 1% commitment to those community-support efforts. So not only do they fund the conversion of a portion of their tequila byproducts to the creation of adobes, but also they fund the development of infrastructure projects — some made with those adobes, others not.

Here’s a list of projects initiated to date through this partnership, each of which was developed in partnership and conversation with the communities in which they’re located:

The Mayahuel Library

Project summary: Build and stock a public library in Zapotitlán de Vadillo, Jalisco, that will also serve as supplemental classroom space for a community middle school that focuses on regene­­rative agriculture.

Regenerate Biodiversity  

Project summary: De-convert the 3.32 hectares of monoculture Blue Weber Agave fields adjacent to the Mayahuel Library into a living example of biodiverse, regenerative agriculture, which will serve as a living example of the importance of traditional agriculture and biodiversity as well as a vital teaching tool for Secundaria Técnica 38.

Rebuilding the Tachica

Project summary: Rebuild the small, pre-industrial distillery of Don Arturo in southern Jalisco, in order to preserve the cultural heritage of this fifth-generation mezcalero’s family and his community. His hillside distillery is eroding as a result of climate-exacerbated weather, putting at risk his ability to continue providing heritage agave spirits to his community.

Plaza del Comunidad

Project summary: Río de Parras, Michoacan, is a town rich with mezcaleros, but lacks a significant space where the community can gather. To celebrate their local festivals and family celebrations, they are forced to travel to Indaparapeo, the closest big town, where they rent a space. This costs money, leaves them at the mercy of another community’s calendar, and separates their celebrations from the place they call home. So we’re funding the community’s building of a significant plaza, which will also be used as recreational space on a daily basis, with the installation of sports equipment for basketball and soccer.