Vintage Roots Environmental Statment

What we are

Vintage Roots Ltd exists to supply and promote the benefits of organic wines and its other organic drinks ranges. Since 1986 we have traded solely in wines that we believe are of the highest authentic quality, originating from low impact producers that actively sustain and enrich their environments.

We recognise that in the very running of our business, we have some adverse impacts on the environment, and that we too must be responsible for reducing our impact.

Vintage Roots Ltd maintains an office and warehouse, and employs around fifteen staff. We run four delivery vehicles, a fork lift and use packaging and supplies as well as needing to travel both within the UK and internationally. We are responsible for the importation of a range of wines from around the world.

What we do

Continue to trade solely with certified organic suppliers, and encourage sound environmental performance across their products, goods and services.
Develop our offering of Fairtrade organic wines & beverages.
Where possible use other ethical and green suppliers for all our business needs, from ‘banking’ to ‘boiling the kettle’.
Minimise our carbon footprint and offset the rest.
Maintain Vintage Roots Ltd as a carbon neutral company with a DEFRA recognised supplier.
Offset carbon emissions against all our wine imports worldwide using accredited schemes, where possible in developing countries.
Raise awareness of environmental issues among our team, and guide and encourage them to pursue best practice.
Employ sound waste management practises, including compliance with the requirements of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) regulations. All cardboard, paper, and glass is segregated and sent for recycling.
Regularly review and look to continually improve our environmental performance.

What we want

Upgrade our vans and investigate Biodiesel opportunity
Save electricity – use review services of Carbon Clear
Increase and improve on our 84% recycling rates, which are already nearly twice that of the national average.
Review our suppliers for print and paper
Sell more organic wine!

Our 100% renewable energy supplier.

Our approved Carbon advisor and offset company.

Carbon Impact

In our market sector, we’ve recently heard increasing talk and concern over ‘wine miles’ – i.e. how far a wine travels from producer to consumer and its associated affect on the environment. Though this is hugely relevant for unnecessary foods that get flown in from around the world, we have often considered that the impact for wine (which always travels by either road or sea) could not be a simple case of distance comparison. Hence a few months ago ‘Vintage Roots’ commissioned a study to reveal the true carbon footprint of all its wine imports, using a specialist leading carbon company called Carbon Clear. The results were very interesting and show that a longer distance travelled by ship is not as damaging as lots of shorter trips by lorry or truck. Buying a bottle of wine shipped from Chile or South Africa generates a smaller carbon footprint than a wine driven from Sicily or Portugal.

Carbon Offset

Carbon offsetting is a way of compensating for the emissions produced with an equivalent carbon saving. Carbon offsetting involves calculating emissions and then purchasing ‘credits’ from emission reduction projects. Carbon offsetting is NOT a cure for climate change, however we believe that it helps raise awareness of the issues and doing something is always better than doing nothing. Offsetting money will go towards projects (not only tree planting), that help by providing investment in clean technology and local projects often in developing countries that immediately reduce emissions as well as improve lives.

Vintage Roots Ltd has taken the decision to offset against all its wine imports (UK to UK included). We believe we are the first wine company in the UK committed to doing this.

Vintage Roots - Carbon Offset Proposal

Carbon Clear proposal for Vintage Roots. Emissions offset estimates based on data provided by Vintage Roots relating to importation of a case of 12 bottles of wine.

Country	Distance Travelled	Kilograms of CO2	Carbon Cost
Argentina	13,080 km	6.105	£0.04
Australia	20,455 km	3.465	£0.02
Austria – Road Only	1,600 km	1.697	£0.01
Chile	15,180 km	2.805	£0.02
England – Road Only	250 km	0.265	£0.00
France – Toulouse Region	825 km	0.87	£0.01
Germany-Southern region	752 km	0.797	£0.01
Greece	5,230 km	1.155	£0.01
Italy ( Veneto)Road Only	950 km	1.007	£0.01
New Zealand	25,280 km	5.445	£0.04
Portugal	2,139 km	2.268	£0.01
Sicily	2,950 km	3.128	£0.02
South Africa	12,030 km	1.98	£0.01
Spain (Catalonia & Rioja) Road Only	980 km	1.039	£0.01
USA	18,030	3.465	£0.02

How its worked out

Working with Carbon Clear, we have calculated the distances that our wines have to travel, and have used published emissions calculation numbers to show the carbon footprint of each journey. Some transportation methods are more efficient than others. For example, moving one tonne of cargo by large ship results in 8 times less carbon emissions than moving a tonne by truck.

From Carbon Clear

Carbon Clear are proud to be helping Vintage Roots to continue their track record of excellent environmental performance. They are taking reduction of their internal emissions seriously, and are offsetting the unavoidable emissions by sourcing offset credits from developing countries. This adds to their long-term commitment to working with wine makers who are stewards of their local environment.

Mark Chadwick, CEO, Carbon Clear Limited

For further information please contact:
Vintage Roots Ltd
0118 976 1999
www.vintageroots.co.uk
info@vintageroots.co.uk

Neil Palmer

Based on DEFRA published numbers for a Large Bulk Carrier ship and a 100% laden articulated lorry

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Vintage Roots Environmental Statment