Sustainable Development in Wine: Luxury or Commercial Necessity?

Systembolaget (450 stores) works with around 1,000 providers who supply 20,000 references for an annual volume of 210 million liters of wine, 25% of which is already organic. Gad Pettersson highlights the ambitious goals of the Swedish monopoly, aiming for a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 2019 and 2030, and carbon neutrality by 2045. These goals are part of a joint agreement with other Scandinavian monopolies in Norway, Iceland, Finland, and the Faroe Islands. How to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045? Packaging, which accounts for about 25% of the carbon footprint of a bottle of wine, has been Systembolaget's top priority. Transportation is another area to be addressed. Most importantly, the next focus is on the product itself and its production methods. According to Gad Pettersson: "There will be commercial opportunities in Sweden for those who have both the skills and the willingness to change how they produce wine."

The Wine Society's historic mission (250,000 members) is to "champion the joys of good wine today and for tomorrow." For Simon Mason, environmental commitment is the logical extension of this motto. While quality remains a non-negotiable condition for The Wine Society's buyers, sustainability indicators, divided into three categories, have been added to the supplier evaluation with significant operational implications for buyers, which is a new development: 1) Packaging. Priority is given to lighter bottles; 2) The supply chain must be as ethical as possible by 2030, with producers required to accept a code of conduct; 3) Data sharing and analysis: data will be collected from producers and shared with consumers. The Wine Society aims to inform consumers to encourage them to choose sustainable wines. The ecological approach of some suppliers is highlighted on Instagram. To achieve this, The Wine Society plans to work hand-in-hand with its suppliers. A new portal dedicated to them has been set up to share best practices, and a series of webinars providing access to the best sustainability experts is in progress. Finally, a climate and nature fund will replace carbon offsetting and will finance initiatives from selected producers.

The British import agent sent out a detailed questionnaire covering everything from water management to social responsibility to all its suppliers, who were then ranked gold, silver, bronze... or not at all. These results were shared online and in the catalog for Hallgarten & Novum's annual tasting event for its clients in February 2024, with the idea of encouraging improvement, information sharing, and helping smaller producers improve. As with The Wine Society, bottle weight is a significant point of attention.

Nicolas, France's leading wine retailer network, takes a holistic and patient approach, based on the quality-progress-trust triptych. Sustainable development is costly, especially for small producers, and Nicolas supports their commitment by showcasing them on the "Les Engagés" page of its website and through a research fund financed by the sale of recyclable paper bags (20 cents) that have replaced free plastic bags. The success stories are then shared with consumers. Eudes Morgan also emphasizes the importance of maintaining the trust of their suppliers, praising their professionalism and dedication in often difficult circumstances. Like his British colleagues, he underscores the value of sharing best practices.