WineGB launches first Sustainability Impact Report for International Day of Climate Action  

The report shows significant early coverage of the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB) scheme, with 43% of the total UK vine hectarage.  

SWGB was established four years ago and measures sustainable activity in vineyards and wineries, supporting activity to reduce carbon emissions.  

The Sustainability Impact Report reviews the impact of the scheme and also takes a broader assessment of the English and Welsh wine industry’s environmental, social, and governance impact. 

The data has been drawn from industry-wide surveys and interviews. As well as articulating WineGB’s role, it provides case studies to help the industry learn from best practice and outlines the activity that the government can take to drive a more sustainable industry, the association explained. 

Report findings 

The report found out that 43% of the total area under vine (1,791ha) is now covered by the SWGB Scheme. There are 79 members of the scheme, 31 have completed their first audit and 13 are gold certified (have passed more than one audit), with the rest are working towards certification.  

9 in 10 (91%) of survey respondents prioritise sustainable vineyard floor management by using cover crops, animal integration, avoidance of herbicides where possible, avoidance of tilling, and reduced mowing. 

Four in five (86%) vineyards in the survey use seasonal workers and by 2040, the industry will support 30,000 jobs.  

Nearly two-thirds (62%) of wineries responding to the survey use renewable energy to at least partly power their operations.  

Over half (52%) of WineGB producer members have used the free WineGB carbon calculator. 

44% of vineyards are accessible by public transport and almost a third (30%) of producers have a net zero target and of those, 75% have committed to a date by which to achieve it. 

Only 19.4% of survey respondents have successfully applied and received government sustainable grant funding. 

Sustainable wine region of world renown 

The report uses data captured by WineGB’s carbon calculator, SWGB data hub and two industry surveys, which gathered data on environmental, social, and governance efforts to enhance sustainability.  

It allows the English and Welsh wine sector to compare itself with other wine regions and provides statistics to measure progress against industry benchmarks, WineGB said. 

The association added that, as it is the first report of its kind produced for the GB wine sector, and one of just a few in the world, it will be used to track performance and drive decision-making. 

The report shows that the sector is committed to sustainability and is taking a leadership role. It will also help identify areas for improvement and resource gaps. 

WineGB will be creating toolkits that practically help members to lower carbon and waste as well as provide guidance on applying for government support.  

Commenting on the report launch, chair of WineGB Sam Linter said: “The launch of this report is testament to the progress we have made and the hard work of our team.  

“However, while we have made great strides as an organisation in just four years, we recognise that we are just at the start of our journey. The findings of this report will allow us to track our progress and collectively become more sustainable.” 

WineGB CEO Nicola Bates added that this report not only provides a snapshot of the current state of sustainability in the UK wine industry, but also “identifies our next steps”.  

“We aim to become a sustainable wine region of world renown – this is just the start. We want to ensure that the sustainability fund Defra has committed to supporting is accessible to our producers.  

“Given the relatively low take-up of the Sustainable Farming Initiative compared to the interest in SWGB, we urge the government to provide clearer guidance and increased financial support for the wine sector within the SFI framework.  

“The incentives need to match the environmental and financial pressures our industry faces, ensuring that viticulture and winemaking are included in any agricultural support scheme.”  

30 days of sustainable action 

The launch of the report is one of three core activities that WineGB is undertaking as part of its first 30 days of sustainable action.  

This started on World Mental Health Day on 10th October with the publication of a free and open access ‘Toolkit for Safe and Respectful Workplaces’ to help protect the health, wellbeing, and rights of those working in wine and wider alcohol sector. 

Accompanying the publication is a guide for individuals called ‘What to Do If You Have Been Assaulted or Experienced a Safeguarding Offence’. Both are available via the WineGB website here. 

The documents anticipate the change in the law occurring later this month, on 26th October, where businesses will have a positive duty to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. 

The launch of the Safeguarding Toolkit comes within a year of the 2023 survey findings from Curious Vines and Proof Insight, which stated that one in three women working in the industry have faced harassment while working, the figure reducing to one in every two for 18 to 34-year-olds. 

WineGB’s final launch at the end of this month will celebrate the leading role that it plays in driving improved sustainability standards and highlighting best practice in the UK wine industry. 

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