FIVS encourages the adoption of meaningful environmental sustainability programs, based on the ability of these initiatives to satisfy the triple bottom line concept of combining financial viability with the requirements of social and environmental sustainability.

A briefing on this issue may be read here: International wine industry ‘carbon footprint’ protocol development.

Main Activities

FIVS has been engaged in the following activities related to sustainability. These resources are provided to help you plan and implement sustainable development programs for your own organization or company.

• Global Wine Sector Environmental Sustainability Principles (GWSESP)
• Brochure: English | Français
• Greenhouse Gas Accounting Protocol (v1.2)
• Greenhouse Gas Calculator (v1.2)
• Greenhouse Gas Calculator Users' Guide (v1.1)

Global Wine Sector Environmental Sustainability Principles (GWSESP)

GWSESP recognizes that the continued health of the wine industry rests entirely on natural resources, namely, solar energy, appropriate climate, clean water, healthy soils, and the successful integration of these elements with sound ecological processes. These principles embrace the concept that the protection and development of these natural resources by practicing sound sustainable development is essential.

Greenhouse Gas Accounting Protocol

The initiative to develop the Protocol was undertaken by a partnership of wine industry bodies in South Africa, the United States (California), New Zealand, and Australia. Key to the process was achieving consensus on the emissions sources to be included and excluded in carbon footprint calculations.

The protocol forms the basis for the Greenhouse Gas Calculator, which forms an illustrative application of the protocol. Wine producers using different calculation tools will also be able to claim participation in the international industry approach if their chosen tool is shown to be consistent with the adopted industry carbon footprint protocol.

In creating these tools, the following references were consulted: the Greenhouse Gas Protocols developed by the World Resources Institute, and the draft PAS 2050: Specification for the measurement of the embodied greenhouse gas emissions in products and services developed by BSI British Standards.

• Guide to PAS 2050: How to assess the carbon footprint of goods and services
• PAS 2050:2008 - Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services

Greenhouse Gas Calculator

The Greenhouse Gas Calculator is based upon and forms an illustrative application of the Greenhouse Gas Accounting Protocol. Currently realized as an Excel Spreadsheet, the Calculator is intended to become a web-based tool in the future.

OIV Cooperation

Since 2007, FIVS has been working with the Organisation International de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV) on the development of guidelines for sustainable winegrowing that incorporate FIVS' Principles. It is hoped that these will be formally adopted by the OIV.