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Environment improvement practices and sustainable winemaking
The Yalumba Wine Company has been operating in Angaston for 150 years and is committed to sustainable winemaking and environmental improvement. To address this commitment Yalumba has developed an environmental program, which is implemented using an environmental management system based on ISO 14001.
Yalumba was the first Australian wine company to participate in the Greenhouse Challenge scheme and also to become a signatory to the National Packaging Covenant. The company continues to work in partnership with the EPA to maintain successful, sustainable and environmentally friendly business practices.
For its efforts, Yalumba has been awarded with South Australia's first EPA Accredited Sustainability Licence. The new licence is only awarded to businesses that demonstrate a high level of environmental performance and show a commitment to continuous improvement.
Introduction
Winemaking activities in South Australia are generally identified under Schedule 1 Part A of the Environment Protection Act 1993 as having the potential to cause serious environmental harm. To address this issue, Yalumba, in cooperation with the EPA, has developed an environment improvement program (EIP) to ensure it meets its legal obligations as well as other specific environmental targets.
Yalumba maintains an open dialogue with the EPA, and independent verification of its monitoring results is undertaken by a specialist.
The program ensures that:
- winery wastewater is used for productive purposes without causing excessive odour, or degradation of soil or water resources
- improved wastewater treatment is used to avoid odours associated with wastewater storage and land treatment
- management and monitoring of approved land-treatment sites are improved
- appropriate storage of potentially odorous solid wastes is considered.
Greenhouse Challenge
Yalumba has committed to estimating its greenhouse gas emissions through the use of life cycle analysis and to taking cost-effective remedial action through a suite of programs including energy conservation, land management and raising awareness of environmental issues.
Land stewardship
The sustainability of land-based activity is determined by the extent to which natural processes are replaced by human control. Yalumba strives to achieve the goal of sustainable quality wine grape production through the implementation of its viticultural code of practice and its Vitis program. The latter was developed by Yalumba to guide its vineyard managers towards best practice environmental management.
Product stewardship
As a signatory to the National Packaging Covenant and other international post-consumer packaging schemes, Yalumba is implementing a comprehensive action plan to demonstrate continuous improvement in reducing and managing packaging waste. The action plan includes aspects of packaging design and production as well as consumer education.
Waste management
Over the past 25 years Yalumba has been active in identifying cost-effective and environmentally friendly means of treating winery wastewater and other by-products of the winemaking process. The program continues to explore viable options including land-based treatment processes that minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
Yalumba also has an active recycling plan that engages both its workforce and the consumer in a shared and extended product stewardship program.
Environmental citizenship
Yalumba promotes a better understanding of environmental issues amongst its stakeholders by conducting training sessions and creating alliances. This approach fosters responsible environmental action and enables environmental objectives of key customers to be achieved.
All photos copyright Yalumba Wine Company.
Last modified: 24/07/2012 03:03 pm
