As domestic and global consumers increasingly seek out sustainably produced wine and produce – Australian growers and winemakers are proactively implementing environmental practices in farms and vineyards.
Freshcare Environmental and Freshcare Australian Wine Industry Standard of Sustainable Practice – Viticulture & Winery Participants make a Commitment Statement as part of their certification requirements.
Award-winning Australian sustainable winemakers Brokenwood Estate – have created their sustainability Commitment Statement, implementing this daily across their vineyards and business operations.
What is an Environmental/Sustainability Commitment Statement?
A clear, short summary of how your farm, vineyard or business manages environmental, social and sustainability practices and how you plan to progress over time. The statement demonstrates your credibility to customers and consumers, while supporting your future reporting requirements.
The Commitment Statement can outline how you already implement sustainability or environmental practices to protect your land, how you support your workers and local community and how you plan to improve in the future.
Bartle Frere Banana Farms, in Innisfail and located in the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Area, is at the forefront of innovative, environmentally focused on farm practice.
How Does it Support Growers?
Tailored to your business, your statement is not just a marketing exercise but a practical tool for planning, measuring and improving sustainability on your farm.
Through outlining how and where you can use or improve sustainable practices in your business you not only benefit the environment, but you can also improve efficiency, profitability and build long-term business resilience. For example, minimising fertiliser and chemical spray impact, implementing water and energy efficiencies can support your business costs. Other benefits include:
- Strengthen your reputation and buyer confidence
- Meet changing customer, retailer and consumer expectations
- Attract and retain good staff
- Reduce emissions and resource use
- Prepare for future sustainability reporting
Create Your Statement in Seven Steps
Creating a Commitment Statement doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. With a clear purpose and a practical, step-by-step approach, you can develop a statement which reflects your values, highlights where you’re exceeding and where you can improve. The following simple steps provide an outline for you plan:
- Define Your Purpose: Why does sustainability matter to your farm?
- Choose Your Key Focus Areas: What matters most? Energy, emissions, water, soil health, biodiversity, recycling?
- Set Goals with Practical Actions: e.g. Install solar power, reduce chemical use, irrigation efficiency, cost savings.
- Engage Your Team: Ask them what you do well, where you can improve, how they can all contribute.
- Write the Statement: Use a simple structure – Introductions (who you are), Commitment (what you value), Actions (what you do now), and Goals (how you plan to improve).
- Review and Refine: Circulate to your team or your Freshcare trainer or consultant.
- Publish and Promote: Let your customers and consumer know via your website, socials, farm visit days.
