Bordeaux launches new carbon reduction system

Bordeaux is aiming to be 'world leader in winemaking sustainability’ with the launch of an Environmental Management System.

Bordeaux wine body the CIVB announced the initiative as part of its commitment to radically reduce carbon emissions by 2050.

A 2008 study found that the Bordeaux wine industry produces 200,000 tonnes of carbon per year.

CIVB director Alain Vironneau pledged to reduce this by 25% by 2020 and by 75% by 2050.

The aim of the new system is to make it easy as possible for companies, whether chateaux or negociants, to reduce their environmental impact.

The CIVB will provide training and documentation to help companies work out emissions levels, set up alert systems for reducing impact, and run efficiency audits.

From this year, the CIVB will be running a pilot study with 20 companies. The intention is for them all to be certified with the internationally-recognised standard, ISO 14001.

Elisabeth Galineau, director of the teaching estate Chateau Dillon, where the ISO certification has been in place since 2004, told decanter.com they use about a fifth of the water other properties use.

‘We sort and recycle all waste, and there is a water treatment centre on site. This helps to ensure we use around one-fifth of the water that most chateaux do during vinification.’

She added, ‘The aim of this programme is for Bordeaux to be world leader in wine-making sustainability.’

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Written by Jane Anson in Bordeaux