Corticeira Amorim is one of the founding members of the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR). As part of this independent, global, and multi-stakeholder non-profit, these founding members aim to create a framework for consistency in the wine industry with regard to sustainability standards. A purpose that will feature the collaboration of representatives from various sectors of the wine industry's supply chain.
The wine industry and its suppliers, like other business sectors, must respond to a series of significant challenges, including drought, flooding, rising temperatures, forest fires, social pressures associated to workers’ rights and equality, and must overcome them, in line with its customers’ requirements and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The Sustainable Wine Roundtable was established by London-based Sustainable Wine Ltd as a response to a call for a common understanding of what the concept of sustainability should mean in the wine industry, a sentiment that was made clear last fall during Sustainable Wine’s Future of Wine conference. The resulting research and advocacy organization is committed to addressing this need through the following objectives:
As a leader in one of the most sustainable industries globally—cork is a 100% renewable, 100% sustainable, and 100% recyclable natural resource—Amorim is steadfast in its commitment to the future and looks forward to bringing enthusiasm, innovation, and dedication to research and development to achieving the common goals set by the Sustainable Wine Roundtable.
In the words of António Amorim, Chairman of Corticeira Amorim: “Wine and sustainability have a clear relationship, that is further reinforced by the role of natural cork. We are proud to join the Sustainable Wine Roundtable’s prestigious group of founding members to strengthen the leadership that has already been demonstrated by the wine sector in relation to environmental and social issues. Cork has unbeatable sustainability credentials, which can only be achieved in full when we can share them with our customers. We therefore hope that SWR's initiatives present the right opportunity to do just that.”
Laura Catena, the Managing Director of Catena Zapata & Founder of the Catena Institute of Wine commented: “Our vision is to elevate our region for another 200 years. In order to achieve that, we need to preserve our ecosystem and our agricultural traditions. We created Argentina’s Sustainability Code more than a decade ago. Today we are focusing the Catena Wine Institute's research on understanding our terroir, on selecting our plants and their ecosystem, so that we can preserve them for generations to come. In view of our overall commitments, we are delighted to join the SWR".
Marcus Ihre, Director of Sustainability at Systembolaget, added: "The wine industry needs to come together to define sustainability, develop a global standard, collaborate and work on how to communicate with consumers. Systembolaget is pleased to support this initiative as a founding member".
Anne Jones, Category Manager: Beer, Wine & Spirits at Waitrose & Partners remarked: “As a leader in the retail industry, we know how important sustainability is to our customers. SWR will offer a great opportunity for us to work with others to learn how we can all clarify the wine-related sustainability messages and drive change."
The founding members of the SWR are: Ahold Delhaize, Alko, Alliance Wine, Amorim Cork, BLB Vignobles, British Glass, BSI, Catena Institute of Wine, Château Léoube, CIVB, Cloudy Bay, Concha y Toro, Diversity in Food and Beverage, Domaine Bousquet, Dr. Loosen, Enotria&Coe, Equalitas, Famille Perrin, Fish Friendly Farming, Food Alliance, Grupo Avinea, Hochschule Geisenheim University, International Wineries for Climate Action, JancisRobinson.com, Journey’s End Vineyards, Lidl GB, Napa Green, New York Wine & Grape Foundation, North South Wines, Preferred by Nature, Ramón Bilbao, Schenk Group, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Sustainable Agriculture Network, Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, Sustainable Winegrowing British Columbia, Systembolaget, The Co-op UK, The Fairtrade Foundation, The Porto Protocol, The Wine Society, Treasury Wine Estates, Vingruppen, Vintage Wine Estates, Waitrose & Partners, Whole Foods Market, Wines of South Africa, WWF South Africa.
SWR is a unique coalition. It is the only global, independent, non-profit, multi-stakeholder roundtable built to include all players in the wine sector, from producers to consumers. SWR helps the wine community create a world where high quality wine is produced, marketed and consumed in ways that simultaneously conserve and regenerate ecosystems, protect human rights, promote equality and inclusion, and generate prosperity, pride and passion for excellence. Their mission is to bring together the global wine community to fulfil this vision.
For further information about SWR and membership applications, please find contact details below:
Tom Owtram - Outreach and Development Manager (Email: tom@sustainablewine.co.uk )
Site: www.swroundtable.org
