EUROPE – Accolade Wines Europe, an international wine business, has announced that its core branded portfolio including Echo Falls has been certified carbon neutral by the Carbon Trust, an independent organisation with the mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low carbon economy.

The certification for its UK-packaged core branded portfolio, which includes Hardys, Mudhouse, Jam Shed, Banrock Station, Echo Falls and Kumala, marks a step towards the company’s aim to achieve neutrality across its entire portfolio by the end of this year.

As a result of the achievement, the carbon neutral messaging will be communicated on packs, in-store and digitally, across the Accolade Wines Europe branded portfolio from January 2021.

“Companies have to act on their carbon footprint for the sake of the planet and we want Accolade Wines Europe to set a positive example that we hope the rest of the industry follow.”

Caroline Thompson-Hill – managing director for Europe, Accolade Wines,

The news comes after its recent £7 million investment in its Bristol drinks site – now renamed The Park – which became a carbon neutral production facility following the installation of a 2.5MW wind turbine. Accolade has also commenced the installation of solar panels at an Australian vineyard.

Carbon neutrality was also met through several other practices such as the introduction of lighter weight bottles for Echo Falls and Hardy’s this year, as well as introducing more recyclable packaging across its ‘Wine on Tap’ formats.

Caroline Thompson-Hill, managing director for Europe, Accolade Wines, said: “We know that there is demand from shoppers for greener products, with 62% of consumers saying they want to buy from sustainable brands, and the wine category is no different.

“Companies have to act on their carbon footprint for the sake of the planet and we want Accolade Wines Europe to set a positive example that we hope the rest of the industry follow.”

To offset its remaining carbon emissions, Accolade has also partnered with climate and sustainability experts ClimateCare.

The companies have worked together on projects such as the Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor, which helps to restore ecosystems and preserve threatened and unique flora and fauna in Australia, alongside afforestation in Chile and renewable energy in the US and China.

“Our trademark Climate+Care approach helps organisations take a smart approach to addressing their environmental impacts by offsetting their carbon emissions through projects which also support sustainable development,” said Vaughan Lindsay, CEO of ClimateCare.

Accolade Wines has named Martin MacKinnon as General Manager, Global Travel Retail. He will lead the business in driving availability, visibility and sales in travel retail channels across the globe.

MacKinnon joins Accolade having most recently been Sales Director for the UK and Ireland at Royal Caribbean International, the world’s largest cruise business. Before that, he spent more than 12 years at Diageo where he held a number of senior sales and commercial roles. He previously also held Sales Director positions at leading consumer brands business Kimberly-Clark.

As reported, the company’s highly respected Commercial Director, Global Travel Retail Rupert Firbank left the company at the end of June.

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