The Drinks Business Green Awards 2016: the winners
15th November, 2016
by
Patrick Schmitt
Green Company of the Year
Winner: VSPT Wine Group
Sustainability is woven into the ethos of Chilean giant VSPT and the company’s comprehensive approach to reducing its impact on the environment made it a clear winner. The opening of a Biogas Plant this year was an industry first, with the winery now generating electricity and natural fertilizer from its own vineyard’s waste material, but it has ticked a lot of other boxes – from lightweight packaging, to solar energy, biodiversity programmes to helping its suppliers with sustainability. As the judges pointed out, its significant reduction of water use in the vineyard is importantly for Chile, and there is evidence of large savings in the last 12 months.
Commendation: Glengoyne Distillery
Scotch distillery Glengoyne deserves a special mention for its partnership with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), which has seen it establish wetland areas that boost ecological diversity and help it filter its spent lees in an environmentally friendly way.
Runner- up: Angove Family Winemakers’ focus on practical actions and investment has seen it convert all of its vineyards to drip irrigation, slashing water consumption per hectare by 25%, instal solar power to supply 50% of the winery’s power, and is halfway through converting its vineyards to organic production.
Runner- up: Jackson Family Wines has made great strides in reducing its carbon footprint, cutting its water usage and water intensity and setting itself aggressive five year goals to further reduce its impact.
Shortlist:
- Angove Family Winemakers
- Concha y Toro
- Glengoyne Distillery
- Jackson Family Wines
- La Motte
- Vinedos Emiliana
- VSPT Wine Group