Every industry has a responsibility to be conscious of its effects on the environment, but the South African wine industry might feel a special obligation to preserve land. South Africa is the only country that has one of the world’s six floral kingdoms entirely within its borders. Any sustainability misstep could mean destroying rare wildlife. Winemakers in the region are becoming increasingly sensitive. Here are 8 ways South African winemakers and retailers are going green.
Backsberg Winery near Stellenbosch became the first winemaker to sequestrate its carbon emissions in 2006.
Carbon sequestration describes the long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) to mitigate or defer global warming and avoid climate change. It has been proposed as a way to slow the accumulation of greenhouse gases released by burning fossil fuels.
CO2 is naturally captured from the atmosphere through biological, chemical, or physical processes. Artificial processes include industrially produced CO2 using subsurface saline aquifers, reservoirs, ocean water, aging oil fields, or other carbon sinks.
After an extensive audit intended to teach the winemakers about the process of containing their carbon footprint, Backsberg has taken several steps to become a carbon neutral environment, including planting trees that absorb CO2, says Backsberg.co.za.
Methane digestive technology
Another step Backsberg is taking to reduce its environmental harm is using methane digester technology, also known as anaerobic digestion. The process essentially takes organic waste such as manure and turns it into energy, according to Tamar-energy.com.
Setting aside land for biomass
Biomass is biological material that can be converted into electricity, fuel and heat, says Drax.com. Backsberg is setting aside some of its lands to develop more biomass, says Backsberg.co.za. The winemaker is saving land to grow additional trees and the organic material capable of methane digester technology.
PET bottles
Just four years after becoming the first winemaker to sequestrate its CO2 emissions, Backsberg made another big change. It started using plastic instead of glass wine bottles. Officially the bottles are called polyethylene terephthalate bottles, and they protect against oxidation. Most of the bottles are part of the new Tread Lightly collection, and the winery was the first in the country to take this step, says Africanbusinessreview.co.za.
Conserving threatened habitats
The Biodiversity & Wine Initiative is a partnership between wineries in South Africa and the conservation sector. A goal of this initiative is to have members dedicate one hectare of land to conserving natural habitats for every hectare dedicated to wine making. Cape Ardor, a retailer that works with several wineries in the Cape, is part of the initiative. More than 70 percent of the company’s affiliated vineyards are partaking in the conservation efforts, says Cape-ardor.com.
Carbon-neutral shipping
Cape Ardor is using eco-friendly shipping methods for shipping product to customers. The retailer uses the United Parcel Service carbon-neutral shipping option, says Cape-Ardor.com. This option involves a voluntary system for tracking and offsetting the carbon impact of UPS shipments, according to Atlanta-based UPS.com. Cape Ardor’s customers pay extra for this type of shipment with a small surcharge.
Going public about carbon credits
A carbon credit is a measurement of how much a company has reduced its CO2 emissions. Reducing a certain amount of emissions earns a company a certain number of credits. Cape Ardor, the largest retailer of South African wines produced around Cape Town, has agreed to calculate and publish its credits, according to Cape-Ardor.com.
Recycled shipping products
Cape-Arbor says it uses nearly 99 percent recycled paper products in its direct-to-consumer shipments. That’s significant for a company that offers several wine club memberships and sends out bottles every month or two.