Sustainability seal for South Africa
The key initiatives, in terms of moving a little further along the path of sustainability in South Africa, are the IPW (Integrated Production of Wine) and BWI (Biodiversity and Wine Initiative), and a new one, SWSA (Sustainable Wine South Africa).
Re-discovering biodiversity
Biodiversity is the latest in a series of buzz-words in the field of sustainability as all agriculturally-based industries address the vagaries and pitfalls of mono-culture. Viticulture is also adapting to the new order.
Lighter Champagne bottles, and biomass potential
The Champenois have officially launched a lighter glass bottle, aimed at cutting carbon emissions. They’ve calculated a reduction from 900 grams per bottle to 835 grams could result in an 8,000 tonne reduction in annual carbon emissions.
Lightening the load
Lower carbon emissions can be achieved by taking weight out of packaging, especially where long distances are travelled from point of packaging to destination market. Lighter weight glass, wine in cans, pouches and composite cartons … it’s all up for grabs.
Cork oak forests
The ‘business’ forests of the Mediterranean cork oak landscapes.
The language of green
Carbon footprints, carbon dioxide emissions, food miles, lifecycle analyses, sustainability, and what would be comprehensible on the label?
Follow the yellow brick road? The green grass track?
Across the wine world, different initiatives are evolving, all aimed towards greater sustainability.
Carbon footprints treading the path to sustainability
Carbon footprints fossilised in stone, or just a step along the way to greater sustainability?
