Kaimira Ventures Winery of Nelson goes Carbon Neutral
April 2008 Kaimira Ventures Winery, maker of the Kaimira Estate and Brightside label range of wines, has been awarded carboNZeroCert TM certification in recognition of their efforts to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
Ian Miller, a director of Kaimira Ventures Winery, says all associated with the project were thrilled to achieve such an important sustainability milestone.
“We have made a long term commitment to reducing the impact of our activities on the planet. This achievement will inspire us to continue our quest and has already resulted in measures such as the use of solar water heating and low energy light bulbs in our new winery. He added that “In an era of increasing awareness of environmental matters we will also be able to add Kaimira Estate and Brightside to the range of wines that the consumer knows have been produced with minimal impacts on climate change”.
Achieving this internationally recognized certification, builds on a commitment to sustainability which has all the winery vineyards accredited under the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand programme and work well underway to secure similar accreditation for its state-of-the-art winery which opened in late December 2007.
Kaimira Ventures worked with Landcare Research to identify the level of green house gases emissions arising from all aspects of its operations from the vineyard to the sales outlet, to develop a plan to reduce future emission levels and, where necessary to offset any remaining unavoidable footprint traces. Kaimira Ventures Winery will invest in PRE wind power carbon credits as an offset in the interests of the development of renewable energy sources for the future.
carboNZero certification involves three steps, measuring, managing towards reduced emissions and finally offsetting (mitigating) the remaining unavoidable emissions. The entire process is then independently audited to ensure its integrity. Professor Ann Smith of Landcare Research, says Kaimira Ventures Winery has met all these criteria for the production and distribution of its wine.
“We hope their example will encourage other wine producers to come on board and seek accreditation for their similar efforts to add value to the New Zealand wine story.”
June Hamilton, director Kaimira Ventures winery, reinforced this message by stating: “Achieving carboNZero certification not only adds impetus to our commitment to sustainability but it addresses a genuine consumer concern that we have become more aware of in the last year or so. We welcome the opportunity to demonstrate to the consumer that our efforts to make top class wines are also making a positive contribution to environmental sustainability.”
For further information or an interview please contact:
• Ian Miller, Director, Kaimira Ventures Winery, on 021 937644, or email Ian@Kaimirawines.com
• June Hamilton, Director, Kaimira Ventures Winery, on 03 5423491 or email June@kaimirawines.com
About the carboNZero programme
The carboNZero programme is an internationally recognised greenhouse gas certification scheme for organisations, products, services, and events wishing to demonstrate climate change action with the highest integrity. The programme encourages and supports individuals and organisations to measure, manage (reduce) and mitigate (offset) their greenhouse gas emissions. The programme offers optional mitigation strategies through the provision of high quality verified offsets.
Established in 2001 by Landcare Research, the programme is based on over a decade of research in greenhouse gas measurement and carbon monitoring. The programme’s goal is to provide credible tools to reduce GHG emissions to the atmosphere. Visit carbonzero.co.nz for more information. All organisations seeking carboNZero certification are subject to an independent third-party audit and an Independent Advisory Panel provides technical and ethical oversight for the carboNZero programme.
www.carbonzero.co.nz
For further information about the carboNZero programme
• Professor Ann Smith, GM Technical, carboNZero programme, Landcare Research, on 03 321 9804 or email smitha@landcareresearch.co.nz
Kaimira Estate Winery
121 River Terrace Road
Brightwater
Ph/Fax 03 5423 431
www.KaimiraWines.com
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