Environment
Operating in a way that is more joyful to the planet, not just our glasses.
In H1 of FY24 Virgin Wines conducted its first double materiality assessment, internally audited its ESG position and formed a new three-year sustainability strategy taking into account the impact we have across our entire value chain. We need to consider the environmental impact of our direct actions as well as indirect impact of our business operations.
The global sustainability challenges we face as an industry are significant. Climate change poses a threat to the world’s wine supply, and despite our efforts, viticulture may still be adversely affected in the future.
How is Virgin Wines tackling GHG Emissions?
We’re proud to be committed to a near-term SME science-based target approved with SBTi (Science Based Target initiative). Our target is to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 42% by 2030 (2021 base year) and to lower Scope 3 emissions.
Having previously been officially verified carbon neutral under PAS 2060 for three years, we made the decision to step away from offsetting and carbon neutrality in 2025.
We are still having our GHG emissions independently audited under the ISO 14064-1 standard which requires extensive GHG emissions reporting as well as external verification.
Undergoing this process year-on-year allows us to be transparent about our operations and gives us a strong understanding of where our GHG emissions come from. We are focused on redirecting the resources we previously dedicated to carbon neutrality towards measurable reductions and improvements across our operations with the goal of implementing real change throughout our value chain.
What else?
- Bulk shipping 45.35% in partnership with Greencroft bottling which is a BRC grade AA+ rated facility and a pioneer in sustainable practices.
- Committed to the Sustainable Wine Roundtable’s Bottle Weight Accord, promising to reduce our 750ml bottle weight to 420g by 2026.
- Active members of the Sustainable Wine Roundtable and Harpers Sustainability Charter.
- Our Recycling Ethos – We have rigorous recycling practices across our sites, with 0% of our waste going to landfill. In 2024, 175 tonnes were recycled or redirected to ‘an energy from waste’ facility. We comply with the PRN (Packaging Recovery Notes) scheme, where we pay a levy to help cover the cost of recycling the packaging that we import.
- Operate company-wide sustainable procurement policies.
- Our new transit packaging is made from 100% recycled materials and uses over 70% less ink compared to our previous packaging.
Looking ahead
Long-term our plan is to continually shift our strategic focus to insetting. By generating real change within our own value chain, we hope to lower GHG emissions, increase carbon sequestration and improve biodiversity, hopefully in such a way that contributes to the creation of environmental improvements for the wine industry as a whole.
We’re aware that the steps we take over the next decade will impact centuries to come, and we want to find enduring solutions to reduce carbon emissions from grape to glass.