From bottles to biodiversity! Welcome to Sustainability Solved! In this episode, hosts Will and Charlie dive into the fascinating world of wine and sustainability with Dom De Ville from the Wine Society. First set up in 1874 by a bunch of people who wanted to pay a fair price for their booze, the Wine Society is leading the charge in tackling supply chain emissions, improving agricultural practices, and supporting winemakers across the globe. If you're curious about Scope 3 emissions, regenerative viticulture, and innovative approaches to sustainability, this episode is for you.

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Case Study Format

Problem

The wine industry faces mounting sustainability challenges:

1. Scope 3 Emissions: 94% of the Wine Society's carbon footprint comes from their supply chain, particularly in wine production, glass bottle manufacturing, and shipping.
2. Climate Change: Extreme weather patterns, droughts, and floods are threatening vineyards worldwide.
3. Human Rights Risks: Reliance on seasonal, often migrant, labour raises ethical concerns.
4. Biodiversity Loss: Conventional farming practices, such as pesticide and herbicide use, degrade soil and ecosystems.

Solutions

Investing in Suppliers (Insetting):

• Instead of traditional carbon offsets, the Wine Society invests directly in their growers through a Climate and Nature Fund. This supports projects like regenerative farming and reforestation.
• Examples include hydro-seeding trials, agroforestry initiatives, and providing seed money for transitioning to regenerative viticulture.

Reducing Glass Bottle Emissions:

• The Wine Society collaborated with 12 retailers through the Bottle Weight Accord to reduce bottle weights by 2027, significantly lowering emissions.

Regenerative Agriculture:

• Encouraging natural solutions, such as planting cover crops, using sheep for natural fertilisation, and avoiding soil tillage to preserve carbon stores.

Collaboration:

• Active involvement in the Sustainable Wine Roundtable and the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation to share knowledge and best practices across the industry.

Producers Making a Difference:

• Highlighting sustainable suppliers on their website to incentivise greener practices and reward innovation.

Results

• Direct investment of £65,000 per year into supply chain projects, supporting growers in transitioning to more sustainable practices.
• A unified industry effort to reduce glass bottle weights, potentially transforming the carbon footprint of millions of bottles annually.
• Positive relationships with suppliers, fostering long-term partnerships and encouraging sustainable innovation.

Takeaways

• Pay a Fair Price: Sustainability in supply chains requires investment and fair compensation for producers.
• Insetting Over Offsetting: Direct investment in suppliers creates measurable, on-the-ground impact while improving relationships.
• Collaboration is Key: Solving sustainability challenges requires industry-wide cooperation and shared solutions.
• Regenerative Practices Work: Nature-based approaches not only improve biodiversity but also increase resilience to climate change.

Resources

• The Wine Society: thewinesociety.com
• Sustainable Wine Roundtable: An industry forum driving collaborative change: https://swroundtable.org/
• Regenerative Viticulture Foundation: Supporting growers in adopting sustainable, regenerative practices https://www.regenerativeviticulture.org/
• Producers Making a Difference: Explore sustainable winemakers on the Wine Society's website: https://www.thewinesociety.com/buy/wines/producers-making-a-difference/
• Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad
• Ministry for the future by Kim Stanley Robinson

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Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by Business Declares, a network inspiring businesses to address the climate, ecological, and social emergency. Learn more at Business Declares.

Credits

Hosts: Will Richardson, Charlie Luxton

Production: Soundquake

Exec-Producer: Sam Hamilton-Turner

Producer: Jake Lee-Savage

For questions or feedback, email us at [email protected].

Tune in next time for more stories on sustainability and business innovation!

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