BEVERAGE SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
GREENING THE LIQUOR STORE
Nebraska-based chain Wine , Beer and Spirits recently announced a series of initiatives that combine sustainability and economic efficiency , showing how they can work handin-hand .
To reduce plastic bag use , the company introduced custom reusable wine totes and began encouraging customers to reuse cardboard boxes to carry purchases . A 100−kilowatt solar system now adorns the roof of its West Omaha location , which has reduced electricity consumption by 80 %. All indoor lighting fixtures and fans were also replaced with high-efficiency alternatives , resulting in nearly net-zero utility usage in recent months . At the Grand Island store , lighting fixture replacement along has reduced usage by 10,000 watts per month .
Wine , Beer and Spirits secured a Recycling Equipment Grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust to purchase cardboard balers and plastic equipment boxes , and implement a can collection program . As a result , hundreds of tons were diverted from landfills ( approximately 80 % of the company ’ s trash ).
CFO Aaron Konen says the company aims to be the greenest liquor chain in America . “ By integrating sustainability into our daily operations , not only do we contribute to a greener future , but we also save money ,” he said . “ Our customers also appreciate the extra steps we take to do the right thing .”
SPIRITS IN PAPER
Demon Rum has teamed up with Kinsbrae Packaging and 17A Distillery in Las Vegas to create a new eco bottle made from 94 % recycled paperboard . The new eco bottle uses 84 % less water , 6x less carbon and is 5x lighter than a similarly sized glass bottle .
The new packaging reduces both the company ’ s shipping costs and its carbon footprint . “ Reducing waste through packaging is a challenge we need to address ,” said Co-founder and CEO Jeff Warren . “ We are committed to sustainable packaging for all future products under the Demon Rum brand .”
E & J GALLO PROMOTES SUSTAINABILITY
E & J Gallo Winery released its annual ESG Report , which includes a summary of the company ’ s environmental , social and governance efforts during the past year . Among the successes highlighted in the report are :
• Processing more than 139 million gallons of water through an onsite water-to-energy plant in Livingston , CA , generating more than 12 million KW hours of electricity annually
• Reducing transportation usage by 3 million miles due to the East Coast Regional Distribution Center in Chester County , SC
• Achieving an average of 30 % energy offset from biofuel and solar use at the Livingston winery
• Diverting nearly 200,000 tons of glass from landfills
• Eliminating the use of crop protection materials by improving pest management practices
CELEBRATING SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
Korbel calls sustainability “ integral to how we make our champagnes .” The company recently highlighted some of the ways its brands safeguard the land and natural resources it utilizes so they can be enjoyed by future generations .
• Korbel Winery has been certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance since 2017
• Working with the supply chain , the brand has reduced the plastic and cardboard used to ship labels . And on average , Korbel ’ s cardboard boxes are made from more than 50 % recycled content ( adding up to 3 million pounds annually )
• The winery is certified as an organic processor by the California Certified Organic Farmers , with 40 acres of grapes converted in the past three years
• Working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Trout Unlimited , Korbel cleans creeks and streams located within the vinyeards to restore natural fish habitats . The company also creates extra spill protection catch basins and river otter protection . While the vineyards are fenced off , the remaining 1,000 acres operates like a wildlife preserve , serving as protected habitat for wild boars , turkeys , deer and other local animals .
PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY
Remy Cointreau partnered with the World Wildlife Fund Mexico this year to protect monarch butterflies in the Americas and increase preservation efforts . Butterflies serve as
2023 Sustainability Guide 4