Sustainability
From local breweries and cocktails on tap to carbon-negative beer and ingredients sourced from across the UK, everything at The Understudy is chosen with sustainability in mind.
We believe drinks taste even better when it’s kind to the planet. That’s why we’re committed to making more mindful choices; from working with local suppliers who share our values, to improving how we manage waste. Every pint, pour, and plate is part of a bigger picture, supporting a more sustainable future for our riverside home. We’re proud to be working in line with the National Theatre’s Green Book goals, taking real steps to reduce our impact and help create a greener South Bank for everyone.
Read on to find out more about just a few of the standout suppliers we work with.
Sapling Spirits
Our friends at Sapling Spirits are leading the way in sustainable distilling, using responsibly sourced ingredients, refillable bottles, and planting a tree for every bottle sold (over half a million so far!). They’ve even saved hundreds of thousands of bottles from waste and earned their place as a certified B Corp.
Black Lines Drinks
We’re also proud to work with Black Lines Drinks. By sourcing from British independent distilleries like Sapling, Kanpai, East London Liquor Company, and Two Drifters, and receiving spirits directly in reusable IBCs, they cut out traditional packaging waste — no glass, paper, or cardboard. Their 20L Key Kegs, which fit standard draught systems, replace 50 glass bottles each, making storage, counting, and disposal far more efficient. Even the empty kegs get a second life: collected locally and recycled with KeyKeg in London, up to 70% are turned into new kegs.
Two Drifters Rum
Two Drifters is a true trailblazer in the spirits world. From running their distillery on entirely on renewable energy and electric vehicles to using lightweight British‑glass bottles, compostable seals and labels made from sugar‑cane fibre, everything is built around sustainability.