Industry News
M.A. Silva Corks, USA Receives Green Business Certification
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors awarded M.A. Silva Corks, USA with a certificate from the Green Business Program Sonoma County in April. M.A. Silva Corks, USA is the first wine cork processor in California to be recognized by the program.
Per program guidelines, M.A. Silva Corks, USA complied with all applicable environmental regulations before taking measures to conserve natural resources, reduce waste and prevent pollution (see www.greenbiz.ca.gov).
According to Neil Foster, the president of M.A. Silva Corks, USA, achieving the Water and Energy Conservation requirements was not difficult for his firm since their 2006 building was designed and constructed as a state-of-the-art food-grade facility with efficient water and air purification systems, caulked floor and wall joints, and covered insulation.
In addition, the company implemented a battery of water and energy-saving procedures identified on the Green Business Program checklist: from installing rain shut-off valves on irrigation systems and planting drought-tolerant flora to purchasing Energy Star® appliances and operating them in standby mode, to choosing programmable thermostats and lighting controls such as occupancy sensors and delay timers, to shading sun-exposed windows and painting exterior surfaces with light colors.
M.A. Silva Corks, USA was particularly active in the category of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling. "We've reduced our solid waste by 60 percent with the help of the program's recycling coordinator," said quality assurance supervisor Adolfo Hernandez. "From a business viewpoint, we've been able to reduce the size of our garbage bin and the number of scheduled pickups and cut our bill by a third."
The 11-page checklist also calls for the purchase of at least four recycled products. "Our packaging materials were already environmentally friendly," said Hernandez. "Our boxes are 60 percent post-consumer recycled content with food-grade inks, but we now buy recycled substitutes for all paper products including tissues, towels and copier paper. We found a source for biodegradable bubble wrap and have been using that in conjunction with cornstarch packing peanuts. We've looking into experimental biodegradable shrink-wrap and plastic bags as well."
The Green Business Program requires participants to "practice good housekeeping in seven ways" such as storing supplies under a roof or refraining from washing equipment where runoff water flows directly to storm drains.
It also mandates that companies reduce chemical use in three ways. MA Silva Corks, USA complies with these standards by contracting a green certified janitorial service and using electric rather than gas-powered tools.
Finally, the company returns toner and ink cartridges to the manufacturer and recycles vehicle fluids in compliance with the requirement to "recycle or reuse three potential pollutants."
"The cork industry is a naturally green and sustainable business," said Hernandez. "We don't use or work with toxic chemicals or hazardous materials."
On December 22, 2008, M.A. Silva Corks, USA became the first California wine cork company to enroll in Pacific Gas & Electric's ClimateSmart™ program. ClimateSmart allows customers to take action on climate change by balancing out the greenhouse gas emissions from their energy use.
Cork Supply USA Earns FSC Certification
In the U.S. and Canada, wineries can now bottle and market their wines with natural corks from Cork Supply™ printed with the symbols of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Rainforest Alliance, assuring the marketplace that their brands choose to use responsibly-sourced natural cork closures to seal their wines.
"Achieving FSC and Rainforest Alliance certification is another meaningful step in our continuous efforts to assure wineries, resellers and consumers that the products they receive from Cork Supply are of the highest quality and brought to them in an environmentally, socially and economically responsible and sustainable manner," said James Herwatt, CEO of Cork Supply USA.
Last year, Cork Supply facilities in Portugal--which provide 100 percent of the natural corks the company delivers to North America--were among the first to earn FSC and Soil Association Woodmark certification for producing and supplying natural corks from responsibly managed forests. Moreover, Cork Supply joined in alliance with 20 Portuguese and Spanish companies to form the WWF Global Forest & Trade Network-Iberia (GFTN-Iberia), which aims to halt illegal logging practices, promote FSC certification to aid forest conservation efforts and provide natural cork products from well-managed forests.
The FSC system is supported by numerous environmental organizations, including the World Wildlife Federation, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, as well as major companies, trade unions and social groups worldwide. For more information on the FSC, visit www.fsc.org. The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org. Cork Supply Group produces and distributes natural and technical corks, oak barrels and alternatives and designer printed-paper labels. For more information, visit www.corksupply.com.
Ben Franklin Press & Label Co. Receives FSC & SFI Certification
Ben Franklin Press & Label Co. (BFP&L) successfully completed an audit by SGS Systems & Services for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certification in January.
Over 65 percent of the printing that BFP&L does is now done with UV waterless lithography. UV waterless lithography is one of the cleanest forms of printing in existence. Because there is no water, the need for chemicals to stimulate drying is not necessary and because the ink is cured by UV rays, there are no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) given off in the printing process. BFP&L has installed an additional waterless offset press to increase capacity. On the new press they will be introducing flat bed silk screening and automatic fountain controls. The automatic fountain controls will reduce make-ready time along with the material associated with make-ready.
For more information, call general manager Dennis Franklin Patterson at 707-253-8250.
Nuts & Bolts
Urban Winery to Open in Washington, D.C. Region
Vint Hill Craft Winery, the first and only urban winery in Washington, D.C., is scheduled to open this summer by wine industry veterans Chris Pearmund and Ray Summerell. The winery will provide the opportunity for a limited number of individuals, small groups, restaurants or wine shops (about 150 in all) to participate alongside its winemaking team to craft a barrel (approximately 300 bottles) of their own wine at a specially designed, eco-friendly, "small lot" winery.
"At other wineries, you taste what someone else produces. At Vint Hill Craft Winery, our focus is on winemaking, and the skill, art and passion that surround it," said managing partner and executive winemaker Chris Pearmund. "Our customers will choose their level of participation at every step of the winemaking process. Wine will be crafted to their specifications, in their style, with their name, a label of their own design and, of course, their unique story behind it."
Customers will receive hands-on instruction in every aspect of the process, crafting their own personalized wine through small classes, forums and personal instruction.
"We will teach you the choices and differences, from fruit selection and fermentation through aging, label design and bottling, where you will earn the title of 'vintner' as your accomplishment to display as you enjoy your wine," said Pearmund, an over 25-year winemaker with more than a dozen winery startups to his credit across Virginia.
The winery is investing in the latest green technologies and sustainable design. From deep well geo-thermal heating and air conditioning to banks of LED lighting and high density insulation, Vint Hill Craft Winery will have one of the lowest energy consumption footprints of any facility of its size in the region.
At the end of the process, customers will have approximately 23 to 25 cases of wine that they designed and crafted (or at least participated with, in concept), with their name and label design. Vint Hill Craft Winery will offer their "vintners" the ability to leave some of the wine they made for tastings and sale at the winery.
Vint Hill Craft Winery is already selling "Vintner Work Orders" for the 2009 harvest, and the winery facility is on schedule to open in July. Prices start at about $20 per bottle for finished wine and can increase slightly depending on the grape sources, barrel selections and processing options that a "vintner" chooses. For more information, visit www.vinthillcraftwinery.com or call the winery at 703-991-0191.
New Products
eWinery Solutions and Clif Family Winery launch Next Live innovative "Green My Shipment" software
eWinery Solutions, a wine industry ecommerce solutions provider, announced the launch of its new donation software for wineries. The innovative feature allows consumers to add additional dollars to their purchases that are designated for specific charitable causes that are sponsored by the wineries and promoted at the time of wine purchase. The feature is currently available to all eWinery Solutions clients.
The release of the donation software tool was timed to coincide with the launch of the new Clif Family Winery & Farm website that features a "Green My Shipment" option in the shopping cart. Green My Shipment was designed to help wine consumers reduce the environmental impact of shipping wine purchased from Clif Family Winery. By voluntarily adding only $0.25 per bottle to their order, they can help to offset the global warming emissions (CO2) generated by the packaging and shipment of their wine.
All of the money collected through Green My Shipment goes directly to NativeEnergy to help support the Cascade Sierra Solutions Trucking Efficiency Project. This program helps independent truck owners and operators improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions and other pollutants generated by ground freight transport. To learn more, visit www.nativenergy.com.
eWinery Solutions serves more than 200 clients in the U.S. and major wine producing regions of the world, with more than 250 websites utilizing the company's technology. For more information, visit www.ewinerysolutions.com.
Clif Family Winery in St. Helena, CA is focused on making wines that sustain the natural resources of the local community and bring awareness of organic and sustainable farming to others. For more information, go to www.cliffamilywinery.com.
Hats Off
Scholarship Program for children of vineyard employees grows by $25,000
The seventh annual fundraising event, the Capitol Wine Dinner, held by the California Wine Grape Growers Foundation (CWGGF) was held on March 4 and raised over $25,000 for the group's scholarship fund. The scholarship program was created by CAWG in 1998 to promote education for the children of vineyard employees.
The annual event has become a tradition for the California wine community; more than 80 people from around the state attended this year's dinner. The event is also an opportunity for the state's wine grape growers and representatives from state government to network and discuss issues facing the industry.
This year's dinner was sponsored by Pan American Underwriters, California Association of Wine Grape Growers, E&J Gallo Winery, Trinchero Family Estates, Dow AgroSciences, F&M Bank, Vino Farms, Inc., Tri-Cal, Inc., Allied Grape Growers, Mary Roach Insurance Agency and Scheid Vineyards. Wine was generously provided by associations from around the state. wbm
