Travel retail winemakers are reaping the benefits of implementing more sustainable practices across the supply chain. Accolade Wines, Treasury Wine Estates and Champagne Lanson speak to TRBusiness in the latest Travel Retail Sustainability Forum (TRSF) column.

Wine retains important appeal in today’s changing world; from aspirational sippers to discerning connoisseurs, it affords consumers a versatility of choice more or less unrivalled by today’s alcoholic beverage standards.

Accolade Wines confirms that sustainability is ‘very high’ on its agenda and a key message for 2020.

“Accolade is constantly looking at ways at how we can be more sustainable and to minimise environmental impact,” commented Rupert Firbank, Commercial Director, Global Travel Retail, Accolade Wines.

“To this end, we have been reducing the weight of our glass bottles across many ranges. We bottle wines closer to the markets they are required in, reducing the shipment of glass around the world.”

‘GREEN’ VITICULTURE IN VOGUE

Firbank says Accolade Park, the company’s UK bottling and warehouse facility, achieved zero waste to landfill two years ago and is now 100% powered by renewably sourced electricity, helped by its on-site wind turbine.

Another firm demonstrating its ‘green’ viticulture credentials is Reims-based Champagne Lanson, not least through the recent launch of Lanson Green Label – its new organic champagne.

“We are the only one of the few large international Champagne houses to offer an Organic Champagne within our range,” said Edouard de Boissieu, Head of Travel Retail, Champagne Lanson.

“Lanson Green Label is a certified organic Champagne, which perfectly expresses the qualities and individuality of its terroir.”

Meanwhile, Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) says it is committed to delivering long-term value for the company and its employees by ensuring sustainability pervades everything it does, from sourcing, producing, marketing and selling wines.

“For example, Matua Winemakers Release is a new range launched exclusively for travel retail,” said Simon Carter, General Manager Global Travel Retail, TWE.

“Consisting of a range of three wines – Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir Rosè and Pinot from the Marlborough region – these are crafted in accordance with Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.

“We have also dropped our carbon intensity in California by more than 17% since last fiscal year. We continue to identify new sources of carbon reduction and offsetting to continue this progress into the future.”

The above is an abridged version of an article set to appear in the April edition of TRBusiness, available soon.