At Robertson Winery, we recognize the need to minimize our environmental impact, especially in the shipping of our wines worldwide. Our primary focus is on improving the sustainability of our packaging, which currently accounts for a significant portion of our emissions. To achieve this, we utilize tools like the Carbon Calculator and participate actively in the Carbon Heroes program to measure and reduce our carbon emissions. Through these efforts, we’ve introduced lightweight bottles and enhanced the construction of the bladders within our large-format carton wines, resulting in significant positive effects on our carbon footprint.

Electricity represents a substantial portion of our emissions, largely due to our reliance on South Africa’s national electricity supplier, Eskom, which primarily uses coal and diesel for energy production. Acknowledging our responsibility, we’re dedicated to minimizing our use of electricity generated through such means and consistently working towards reducing our energy consumption. Our strategies include implementing energy-saving practices, utilizing energy-efficient fixtures, and exploring the potential installation of a solar-powered renewable energy system to further reduce our environmental impact.

Sustainability permeates every facet of our business operations. We actively engage in water conservation and re-use initiatives whenever feasible, emphasizing responsible usage. Our commitment extends to the use of environmentally-friendly chemicals on our farms, ensuring minimal harm to the surrounding ecosystem. We actively promote recycling, both of packaging materials and waste products generated during farming and production processes. Additionally, our inorganic waste is collected by a registered recycling company, guaranteeing proper management and disposal.

Furthermore, as proud members of the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) scheme, we align ourselves with the South African wine industry’s sustainability initiative. IPW adheres to international environmental sustainability criteria, covering both good agricultural practices related to grape production and good manufacturing practices related to wine production and packaging activities. This commitment to sustainability is bolstered by annual spot-checks conducted by the IPW team, assuring buyers that our wines are produced in an environmentally-conscious manner. We’ve also achieved certification from the Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association (WIETA), a globally-recognized ethical auditing body registered with the Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP). This certification reflects our commitment to an ethical code of conduct and ensures rigorous monitoring of our supply chain. Additionally, we are certified to the BRCGS Global Standard for consumer products, demonstrating our dedication to producing safe, authentic, and high-quality consumer products.