Chile's Sustainability Code: Paving the Way for Global Responsibility in the Wine Industry

The global wine industry is undergoing a profound transformation with a growing focus on sustainability. As environmental and social concerns escalate, wineries worldwide are embracing sustainable practices in water conservation, energy efficiency, and social responsibility. The wine industry increasingly recognizes the significance of minimizing its ecological footprint while adopting practices that nurture both the environment and local communities. This shift towards sustainability is crucial for ensuring a prosperous and responsible future for the wine sector.

Chile has gained international recognition as a frontrunner in sustainability within the wine industry. According to WineTourism's survey of 1.58 thousand wineries across 42 countries, Chile emerged as the leader in environmentally responsible and socially-conscious wine production. Scoring an impressive 4.8 out of 5 in sustainability importance, Chile demonstrated the highest level of commitment in this area among all the countries surveyed. . Other countries like Italy, Spain, Australia, and the United States have also emerged as leaders in sustainability.

General Importance of Sustainability by Country 

Source: winetourism.com

Chile's extensive Sustainability Code, encompassing four areas and 346 requirements, has been embraced by a substantial number of wine producers. Achieving full certification takes about two years, but over 84 wineries and 80% of bottled wine exports in Chile have obtained sustainability certification through this voluntary program. The certification process involves specific steps for each area: green (vineyards), red (wineries and bottling plants), orange (social), and purple (tourism).

The Green area for the wine sustainability certification includes Type A (own vineyards) and Type B (long-term suppliers) land but excludes spot purchases. It comprises three sections: pre-planting, established vineyards, and implementation and monitoring. Pre-planting is assessed from the second certification cycle, while the other sections cover the entire vineyard surface from the first certification cycle. The green area includes initiatives for sustainable soil management, fertilization methods, waste management, disease and weed control, and responsible water use. It also covers reforestation with native trees and conservation zones.

Source: Sustentavid

The Red area of the certification process includes wineries, bottling and/or packaging plants, and other wine production-related facilities. If the wine-producing company rents the winery and/or bottling service, the company providing the service must be included in the audit. Compliance requires including specific percentages of harvested and bottled liters based on the certification cycle. In the red area, the focus is on energy and water conservation, waste residue methods, recycling, contamination prevention, emissions reduction, and heating, cooling, and ventilation.

Source: Sustentavid

Additionally, the Orange (social) area of the sustainability certification includes Type A land from the Green Area, wineries, bottling plants, packaging facilities, offices, and other wine production-related facilities. It also covers central offices and areas with human resources administration. To achieve this certification, all units, except for supplier's fields, must be submitted for all four certification cycles. The orange area includes safeguards for winery workers, preventing child labor and forced labor. The certification program evaluates various social aspects, such as code of ethics, health and safety plans, working conditions, communication with neighboring communities, and support for organized labor and unions.

Source: Sustentavid

Lastly, the purple cycle certification focuses on the physical location of the company involved in enotourism activities, including related service facilities. It complements the Sustainability Code in its three areas. Companies seeking certification in this domain must already be certified in the Code, or if undergoing their first audit, they can voluntarily apply for inclusion. The purple area of the Sustainability Code, introduced in 2020, regulates social aspects such as worker treatment and protection, staff training, food waste, sustainable lodging, and hiring local suppliers. The code ensures tourists have positive experiences and helps build brand loyalty, as over one million people visit Chilean wineries annually. Chile places significant importance on sustainability in wine tourism, allocating 37.3% to environmental practices, 30.3% to economic sustainability, and 31.3% to social responsibility.

Key Sustainability Areas in Chilean Wine Tourism

Source: winetourism.com

The Chilean Sustainability Code has motivated wineries in Chile to adopt measures to combat climate change and produce wine responsibly. Chile's Sustainability Code has made the country a global leader in responsible wine production since its inception in 2010. With an impressive commitment to environmentally responsible and socially conscious wine production, Chile has garnered international recognition for its Sustainability Code, encompassing various areas like vineyards, wineries, social responsibility, and tourism. Notably, Chile's unique focus on sustainability in wine tourism sets it apart, ensuring positive experiences for tourists while fostering brand loyalty. As the demand for sustainable products grows, Chile's proactive approach to responsible winemaking serves as a role model for the industry worldwide, paving the way for a thriving and responsible future in the world of wine.

For a detailed analysis of the Chilean wine market, read the Wine Report: Chile 2023 on Tridge's website.