Case study organic wine

Carbon footprint of organic wines certified 

On behalf of the vineyard Viñedos Emiliana, TÜV SÜD certified the product carbon footprint of five organic wine ranges, confirming that all CO2 emissions had been offset.

Providencia (Chile) / Munich (March 2010).

An increasing number of companies are opting for certification of the carbon footprints of their products. Viñedos Emiliana commissioned the experts at TÜV SÜD to put their products to the test. The Chilean company is one of the leading producers of premium organically grown wines. To achieve carbon neutrality for its wine, the wine producer must systematically record, reduce and also offset the CO2 emissions caused during wine production.

Drawing up a carbon footprint

To draw up the carbon footprint of the wines, the experts analysed not only the grape harvest and the finishing process, but also the complete supply chain from the vineyard to the table. "Our experts verified on site that the vineyard reliably recorded all direct and indirect emissions in accordance with a uniform carbon footprint standard", says Thomas Claßen, Voluntary Market Project Manager at TÜV SÜD Industrie Service.

The 'product carbon footprint' (PCF, also called the CO2 footprint) summarises all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated throughout a product's lifecycle. Although no ISO standard has yet been drawn up, companies already need to begin contributing to mitigating climate change. The certification of the Chilean wine was based on the Standard Public Available Specification 2050 (PAS 2050:2008) developed by the British Standards Institution (BSI).

Offsetting of emissions confirmed

To offset all product-related CO2 emissions, the vineyard purchased certificates in a climate-change project based on the VCS and Social Carbon standards. All of the five certified organic wine ranges were awarded TÜV SÜD's own "Carbon neutral" mark. The certification process centred around a comprehensive list of criteria with high requirements. By conducting annual surveillance audits, the experts verify the ongoing compliance with the certification criteria.

"This third-party certification of our products' carbon footprint enables us to present a transparent account of the emissions related to wine production" says Maria de la Luz Tirado Concha, Sustainable Department Manager and Project Manager at Viñedos Emiliana. "On this basis, we can identify potential areas of saving throughout the process chain and develop measures for CO2 reduction."


Benefits at a glance: 

  • More transparency for producers and consumers
  • Companies document the fulfilment of their corporate social responsibility regarding the mitigation of climate change
  • Improved energy efficiency in the production process
  • Improved sustainability in the flow of goods
  • Impartial and comprehensive certification of cuts in emissions
  • Certification by an internationally recognised, independent third party

TÜV SÜD experts certify not only product carbon footprints, but also companies' output of greenhouse gases (corporate carbon footprint) and certify carbon-neutral operations based on TÜV SÜD's own "Carbon Neutral" standard. Find out more at: www.tuev-sued.de/climatechange