Sustainability 2024 | Page 10

SUPPLIERS
California winery Avivo focuses on regenerative farming , which helps to restore soil and ecosystem health while reducing the need for harmful chemicals and tilling .

Suppliers Seek Sustainable Practices

by KRYSTINA SKIBO

Beverage alcohol has a sizeable carbon footprint . The global alcoholic beverage industry produces about 1.5 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions annually , which is comparable to the emissions of around 276 million cars , according to a Manchester University Study conducted in 2020 .

Everything from growing the ingredients needed for fermentation , manufacturing and packaging to fuel used to ship these products around the world all contributes to climate change . But several producers , suppliers and importers have implemented more sustainable practices .
One is Avivo , a California winery that focuses on regenerative farming , which helps to restore soil and ecosystem health while reducing the need for harmful chemicals and tilling . This approach helps restore the balance of carbon emissions and carbon sequestration in the vineyards , creating an ecosystem that thrives from the ground up , according to founder / CEO Ridgely Evers .
“ We ’ ve really embraced biodynamics ,” he says . “ We ’ re certified organic , we ’ re certified biodynamic and we ’ re certified regenerative .” The company has two farms in Navarro , CA , Evers says . “ The inspection process for each one is different because there are two different living organisms . But if you look at our vineyards , there are so many other plants growing .”
Part of this growth is because the vineyards aren ’ t tilled . Tilling not only exposes the soil to sunlight , but it also destroys everything that ’ s
Donnafugata bottles its Lighea white wine in the Cento per Cento Sicilia Burgundy bottle , produced exclusively on the island of Sicily from recycled glass .
growing in the ground , says Evers . Not tilling creates an opportunity for the understory to thrive .
Oak Ridge Winery in Lodi , CA , farms all of its 2,500 acres of vineyards in accordance with Lodi Rules ; a thirdparty certified program created for the Lodi Appellation . The program signifies a commitment to rigorous , scientifically sound sustainable winegrowing .
Another certified sustainable vineyard is Donnafugata in Sicily , Italy . “ Donnafugata has the ‘ SOStain ’ certification that is showcased on the labels of our bottles ,” says CEO / co-owner José Rallo .
This certification is given by the SOStain Foundation according to the SOStain program for Sicilian Sustainable viticulture . The program includes a disciplinary consisting of 10 minimum requirements , Rallo says , some of which include not using chemical herbicides , biodiversity , using energy efficient technologies and keeping the wine bottles under a certain weight .
GREENER PACKAGING
Beginning with the 2023 vintage , Donnafugata bottles its Lighea white wine in the “ Cento per Cento Sicilia ” ( 100 % Sicily ) Burgundy bottle , “ so-called because it is produced exclusively on the island of Sicily from recycled glass according to a virtuous circular economy model promoted by Fondazione SOStain and implemented by O-I Glass ,” Rallo says . Weighing just 410 grams vs . the 550 of the previous bottles used , the “ Cento per Cento Sicilia ” bottle is also lighter , “ therefore contributing to reducing CO2 emissions and environmental impact over time ,” he continues .
10 2024 Sustainability Guide