The wine industry is working seriously to manage sustainability in several regions of the world. They have adopted programs to reduce the industry’s environmental footprint – regarding chemical use, carbon emissions, water conservation and waste — and also make a contribution to societal needs in wine growing communities. Wine industry associations in many regions have implemented certification programs, some more rigorous than others and some limited to sub-regions and not applied nationally. These programs naturally vary, with little standardization. Given distinct climactic conditions, unique biodiversity, different labor conditions and community needs, they obviously have different pre-requisites and requirements.
These differences have led to confusion and even skepticism in some quarters regarding sustainability claims by wineries and sustainability certification programs.
Consumers nowadays see a lot of certification schemes and generally are unable to distinguish one from another. Retailers, determined to provide environmentally responsible products, want assurance that these products, and the seals they display, meet acceptable levels, if not the highest level, of impact and authenticity. More than that, they want to display the certifications recognized by the end consumer.
Consumers in general don’t know how to navigate the various seals and certifications and retailers often don’t have the resources to provide this information or education. There is some understanding of organic certification, given consumer experience with organic foods. In only in a few instances have customer communications, education and marketing been included among the priorities of the regional sustainability programs. A brief overview of each program is available here: Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa and The United States.
For complete, detailed descriptions of each regional program please contact us at info@discoversustainablewine.com or on our contact page.
