Fetzer Vineyards said it achieved significant reductions in energy and water use in 2017 and 2018, surpassing its 2020 goals in both areas two years ahead of schedule, while maintaining industry-leading certifications for Zero Waste and CarbonNeutral operations and making significant efficiency upgrades to production facilities.
Setting the course for a more climate-resilient tomorrow, the vintner simultaneously initiated efforts to drive the more widespread adoption of regenerative agriculture in its supply chain and spoke up in state, national and international forums for more rigorous environmental policymaking.
The vintner achieved a 25% reduction in winery water use from its 2015 baseline, using just 2.75 gallons of water per gallon of wine produced. In 2018, Fetzer Vineyards met its 2020 energy efficiency goal early, realizing energy savings of 21% thanks to numerous efficiency upgrades and innovative, energy-savings projects.
In other actions intended to make the company more regeneratve, Fetzer:
— Commissioned a pioneering research study to measure soil organic carbon (SOC) in its regeneratively farmed vineyards, learning that sites farmed with organic and Biodynamic methods stored 9.4% – 12.8% more SOC than conventionally farmed acreage. Results offer directional indication of the positive role regenerative agriculture can play in slowing climate change.
— Updated its legacy bottling lines to improve efficiency and environmental performance, decreasing the carbon footprint associated with bottling more than two million cases annually. Cutting-edge equipment allows the winery to operate its bottling system with bulk glass and unassembled cardboard cartons, which are more resource-efficient and flexible options in both manufacturing and transportation.
— In 2017, amended its legal structure to become a benefit corporation in the State of California, committing to balancing impacts on ecosystems, stakeholders, communities, and profits as measures of business performance. Now held legally accountable for considering a broader range of business-related impacts, including the environment, the vintner formally measures success through both profit and purpose.