Nov 23, 2021

Bonterra Organic Vineyards gets ‘climate neutral’ certification, publishes carbon data

Bonterra Organic Vineyards announced November 17 that it has achieved Climate Neutral certification for its entire business, and publicly published its climate footprint.

Bonterra, which markets itself as the nation’s leading organic winery, will communicate openly and transparently with consumers about its climate impact, according to a news release from the company.

“Publicly sharing our emissions footprint and taking responsibility in a really clear, open way was important for us to do now – not in five, ten or thirty years,” Rachel Newman, vice president of marketing for Bonterra, said in the news release. “The climate crisis demands that we act now and that we act boldly.”

In addition to a widely available selection of organically farmed wines that includes Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Equinox Red, Young Red and Rosé, Bonterra crafts a trio of sought-after single-vineyard offerings from estate Biodynamic® vineyards in Mendocino County.

The announcement comes on the heels of this year’s United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on the climate crisis, according to the news release.

In certifying as Climate Neutral, Bonterra disclosed that on average, a bottle of Bonterra wine (750ml) creates 3.4 pounds of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions (CO2E); in comparison, an apple creates 0.09 lbs. CO2E, while a smartphone creates 131 lbs. CO2E.

Bonterra has a history of sustainable practices, including 100% green power use at the winery, the company said in the news release.

Bonterra worked with nonprofit organization Climate Neutral to account for all scopes of greenhouse gas emissions created in Bonterra wines’ journey, from cradle to consumer. In 2020, 37.2% of Bonterra’s emissions were derived from packaging and materials, 25.2% from shipping, 16.5% from production, 16.1% from farming and grapes, and 5% from employee commuting and travel. Bonterra offset 110% of its footprint through responsible, third-party sourced, nature-based carbon credits.

“Every company should be able to quantify how it’s adding to the climate crisis – just as every company understands its revenues and expenses. But most companies don’t, and even fewer are taking immediate action to eliminate their greenhouse gas emissions,” said Austin Whitman, CEO of Climate Neutral.  More than 300 brands, including Alter Eco, REI and Numi Tea, undergo the annual certification process.

For more information about Bonterra and its commitment to Climate Neutral winegrowing, please visit www.bonterra.com/climate-neutral.

Graphic: Bonterra/PRNewswire