Accolade Wines Europe has announced its core branded portfolio[1] – including Hardys, Mudhouse, Jam Shed, Banrock Station, Echo Falls and Kumala – has been certified carbon neutral. Accolade’s ambition is to complete 100% portfolio neutrality by the end of 2020.
The certification is part of the company’s long-term commitment to sustainability and reducing its impact on the planet.
The carbon neutral footprint analysis is certified by the Carbon Trust, an independent organisation with the mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low carbon economy.
Accolade sells over 150 million bottles of wine in Europe per year and continually seeks improvement opportunities to reduce its carbon footprint. For example, the introduction of lighter weight bottles for Echo Falls and Hardy’s this year reduced the glass related CO2 brand footprint, and more recyclable packaging has been introduced across ‘Wine on Tap’ formats. Investments in on-site renewable energy have commenced with solar panel installation at an Australian vineyard and in 2019, a 2.5MW wind turbine at Europe’s manufacturing site ‘The Park’, significantly reducing GHG emissions.
To offset the remaining carbon emissions, Accolade Wines Europe has also partnered with climate and sustainability experts ClimateCare to offset their residual carbon emissions across its brand portfolio. ClimateCare specialise in high quality projects that both reduce carbon emissions and improve lives. The team has worked closely with Accolade Wines to help them compensate for those emissions they cannot yet reduce. These projects include the Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor, which helps to restore ecosystems and preserve threatened and unique flora and fauna in Australia, alongside innovative afforestation in Chile, clean cookstoves in South Africa and renewable energy in the US and China. These projects not only cut carbon emissions, helping to tackle climate change, but also deliver a variety of sustainable development impacts. For instance, clean cookstoves reduce indoor air pollution, a major health issue in the developing world.
Caroline Thompson-Hill, Managing Director for Europe, Accolade Wines, said: “We’re very proud to announce that our Accolade Wines UK-packaged core branded portfolio is carbon neutral. We know that there is demand from shoppers for greener products, with 62% of consumers saying they want to buy from sustainable brands[2], and the wine category is no different. Companies have to act on their carbon footprint for the sake of the planet and we want Accolade Wines Europe to set a positive example that we hope the rest of the industry follow.
Robert Foye, Accolade Wines Chief Executive Officer added, “Taking our UK-packaged core branded portfolio carbon neutral is a major achievement for our entire Company and follows on from recent investment in The Park to become a carbon neutral production facility. We are committed to focusing on sustainability across everything we do and moving towards carbon neutrality across our business is extremely important to us.”
Vaughan Lindsay, Chief Executive Officer, ClimateCare, said: “We work with forward-thinking organisations to turn their climate responsibilities into positive outcomes. Our trademark Climate+Care approach helps organisations take a smart approach to addressing their environmental impacts by offsetting their carbon emissions through projects which also support sustainable development.”
Carbon neutral messaging will be communicated on packs, in-store and on digital, across the Accolade Wines Europe branded portfolio from January 2021.
[1] Hardys (Australia) Banrock Station (Australia), Echo Falls (USA), Kumala (South Africa), Mudhouse (New Zealand), Anakena (Chile), Echo Falls (USA, Chile, Italy, Spain), Echo Falls Fruit Fusions (blended wine with additional ingredients, South Africa, Spain), Echo Falls Blends (blended wine, South Africa & USA) Jack Rabbit (Chile), Stowells (Chile, Italy), Jack Rabbit (Italy), Da Luca (Italy), Jam Shed (emissions estimated, Australia), Ginger Joe (ginger beer, UK)
[2] Accenture, 2019
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