Hot off the press: Sustainability efforts of wineries to be independently verified with expansion of the already popular SIP Certification program.
Since 2008, Sustainability in Practice (SIP)™ Certification has provided independent, third-party verification of sustainability practices in 27,000 acres of California vineyards, so “taking it to the winery level was the logical next step,” said Kris Beal, Executive Director of the Central Coast Vineyard Team (CCVT), the non-profit group which developed SIP Certification.
SIP Certified Seal
Though still in the planning stages, the winery process certification will rigorously review a number of factors, including energy efficiency, water use, glass and paper recycling, and even what kind of materials are used in packaging and collateral marketing materials. As with the vineyard certification, the elements of social equity and financial sustainability will also be taken into account.
“With the SIP seal already validating about 300,000 cases of wine made with SIP Certified grapes, we wanted to make sure the consumer had yet another level of assuredness about the choices they were making,” said Beal. “We also realized that our winery members were very interested in this aspect as well. For them, it’s really one of the best ways they can prove their own commitment to sustainability, to protecting natural and human resources, and — above all — crafting a quality product.”
Beal noted that CCVT has also received inquiries from other agricultural representatives about the possibility of adapting the SIP label to crops beyond winegrapes.