Embracing change in hospitality industry and addressing issues
As one of Britain’s leading wine and spirits supplier, catering some of the world's top wines and spirits to a diverse and sizeable range of on- and off-premise businesses, we recognise the responsibility we have towards the environment, which nurtures our valuable products, as well as to our employees and community. Leading change is for us an obligation, of course, but also a unique opportunity, given our influential position, to promote genuine sustainability throughout the industry. By firmly integrating sustainability practices into all aspects of our operations, we can drive positive environmental impact both upstream and downstream in the supply chain.
Top priorities: our sustainability charter
In 2022, Enotria introduced an ambitious Sustainability Charter, solidifying our dedication to sustainability as a strategic priority across the three core pillars: environmental, community, and social. Our Sustainability Charter outlines key priorities embedded within our mid-term commitments and sets forth future goals. In terms of environmental impact, the numerous initiatives we have so far implemented have led to a tangible reduction in our direct carbon emissions year-on-year, according to our latest data from 2022.
Regarding our commitment to the community, we prioritise creating a fulfilling workplace environment through ongoing financial support for charities such as the Drinks Trust and Room to Reward. Additionally, we sponsor training for qualifications such as WSET and MW for our staff, and we fully support the qualification of Mental Health First Aiders within our workforce. Furthermore, our Duty of Care initiatives include fostering diversity and inclusion through activities such as our Gender Pay Gap Report and continuous training on ethical marketing and sales practices for all employees.
Looking ahead, we have set ambitious goals for the future. By 2030, we aim to achieve carbon neutrality in our internal operations and extend this commitment to encompass our entire supply chain by 2050. We are also establishing a Charity&Social committee to spearhead local volunteer projects and plan to offer support for the Safe Spaces Now campaign.
You can access the full details of our Sustainability Charter in the document provided [insert link or attachment here].
Adding value: Sustainability Barometer
To achieve our ambitious sustainability goals, collaboration with, and support for our producers are crucial. This is why we actively assist them in monitoring their sustainability performance and facilitate gradual improvements, but also leverage our expertise in the UK market to help them understand the increasingly stringent expectations of our customers. We organise these intentions into our “Sustainability Barometer”, an annual report that tracks the progress of each of our suppliers across the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and governance. The insights gained from the Sustainability Barometer enable us to identify and showcase best practices, which we then share with all producers to promote continuous improvement. To maintain the integrity of the Sustainability Barometer we review and improve it on an annual basis. This includes refining its accuracy and relevance to ensure it provides valuable and reliable information for us, for our clients, and for the wider UK wines and spirits industry.
SWRT/Harpers sustainability charter
While we appreciate the growing attention to sustainability and environmental concerns in the industry, we believe that true, meaningful progress can only be achieved through a proactive approach. This proactive stance is crucial for effectively addressing these issues and ensuring the long-term viability of the wine industry. In line with this approach, Enotria is engaged in working groups and think tanks alongside other dedicated industry members. We are a proud founding member of the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR), a collaborative platform committed to advancing sustainability throughout the global wine industry, spanning from production to retail.
An exemplary initiative undertaken by the SWR and its members is the “bottle weight accord”. This agreement, endorsed by some of the world's leading retailers, aims to reduce the weight of 750ml still wine bottles to 420g by the end of 2026. Demonstrating our commitment to this cause, we have set a goal to achieve this target one year ahead of the agreed schedule.
In addition to our involvement in the SWR, Enotria actively participates in Harper's Sustainability Charter as one of its three Sustainability Champions. This group comprises companies collaboratively working towards initiatives that advance the discourse on sustainability in the wine industry and raise awareness about sustainability issues.
