Freshcare Australian Wine Industry Standard of Sustainable Practice – Winery (AWISSP-WIN)
AWISSP-WIN is an environmental sustainability management program based on the internationally agreed standard for an environmental management system, ISO 14001.
The program helps businesses to manage the environmental aspects of their operations. This includes minimising the harmful effects on the environment caused by a business’s activities, including environmental risks through the supply chain.
Environmental aspects included in the standard are biosecurity, land and soil management, chemical and nutrient management, water, biodiversity, waste, air quality, energy and fuel efficiency.
Overall business management processes are also considered including sustainability action planning, employee management, management of customers and suppliers and incident management.
The aim of implementing the program is to help businesses identify, reduce, and manage risks to the environment, conform to relevant regulatory requirements and focus on continual improvement.
Achieving certification to this standard enables wineries and wine businesses to be certified members of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is the national program for grape growers and winemakers to demonstrate and continuously improve their sustainability in the vineyard and winery through the environmental, social, and economic aspects of their businesses.
The program takes a holistic approach to managing, supporting and promoting sustainability. It is administered by the Australian Wine Research Institute with governance, endorsement and active support from Australian Grape & Wine and Wine Australia.
Members of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia commit to annually reporting business metrics and completing a workbook of vineyard and/or winery practices. The program covers the key components of sustainability (environmental, social and economic) and can be applied to both the vineyard, wineries and/or wine businesses. For more information click here.
A Collaborative Partnership
Freshcare Ltd owns and independently manages the Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice (AWISSP) for Viticulture and Wineries. The standards were developed to support the Australian Wine Industry and Sustainable Winegrowing Australia members.
Members of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia can choose to become certified members, by implementing the Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice (AWISSP) and having these practices verified by a third-party audit.
Certified members are then eligible to use the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Trustmark. The Trustmark has been developed for use by certified members on wine labels, communications, and marketing materials, to provide a visible demonstration of their commitment to sustainable practices. Customers and consumers will know from seeing the trust mark that the vineyard and winery have met rigorous standards of sustainability.
Freshcare has created the infographic below to illustrate the relationship between the Australian wine peak industry bodies, Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and Freshcare. The infographic illustrates the partnerships and responsibilities for each organisation within industry and the support and benefits for members who are certified to AWISSP.
To download and view the full-size of this infographic, please click the image above.
Questions?
Refer to the below Wine Industry Q & A’s below for more information, or contact us via phone: 02 8039 9999, or email: [email protected]
Wine Industry Q & A
- I’m new to certification, where do I start?
- Do I need to Complete Freshcare Training?
Yes. Each business participating in the program shall have least one (1) representative of the management complete approved training, as required by the Freshcare Standard(s):
a. This training shall be conducted prior to an audit being undertaken at time of initial registration to the program; and
b. Where this person leaves, the business shall require a new trained representative to commence training within three (3) months.
- What will I learn in the Freshcare Training?
Freshcare training supports the interpretation of requirements of the Standards, provides examples of the documents and record-keeping needed to be kept, and explains how to integrate the program for best business practice.
Training supports learning and program adoption and is an essential component of all Freshcare Standards. Training ensures consistency in application, understanding and preparedness by participants in the Freshcare programs, and supports businesses to have all the tools needed to support their certification journey.
The business member responsible for implementing sustainable practices must complete Freshcare training in the AWISSP-VIT and/or AWISSP-WIN Standards.
- I have just completed Freshcare training, how long should I allow before I schedule my audit?
A minimum of three (3) months should be allowed between training and audit. Some businesses may already be implementing many of the practices in the standard and therefore be ready to have these practices verified by a third-party audit.
Other business may take longer to implement changes to their business, therefore require longer between training and audit.
- Does my audit need to be undertaken during vintage?
No, the audit can be conducted at any time during the year. However, to use the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (SWA) Trustmark, the audit must be completed and certification received prior to the harvest of grapes for a vineyard, and prior to receival of grapes for a winery.
For detailed information, please refer to the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Rules for Trustmark Use.
- If I have any changes to my business, land holdings, site sales or purchasing who should I contact?
For certified businesses seeking a change or update their certificate – the first point of contact should be the certification body that has endorsed the certification, as listed on their certificate. If further assistance is required from Freshcare the Certification Body will undertake that engagement.
- I am buying a certified vineyard, can I have the certificate transferred to me?
No, certificates cannot be transferred between businesses. It is the sustainable management system applied by the business that is certified. Therefore, the new ownership of a business needs to continue to implement the sustainable management system and be audited to verify implementation.
- Can I add a newly purchased site to my existing certificate?
Yes, the new site will need to be audited to verify it is being run under the sustainable management system. Contact your Certification Body and request a scope extension. They will advise on the best approach to auditing the new site.
- What do I do if I sell my certified business?
Certificates are not transferable between separate business entities, therefore:
- Firstly, notify the Certification Body that issued the certificate, the certificate will cease to be valid when sale contracts are exchanged.
- Contact Freshcare within 28 days to notify of business changes and decide if the business wants to continue to be registered with Freshcare.
- What do I do if I sell one of my certified sites?
- Notify your Certification Body that you no longer own the site and they will reissue the certificate removing that site.
- The certification for that site cannot be transferred to the new owner.
- Contact Freshcare within 28 days to notify of business changes and decide if the business wants to continue to be registered with Freshcare.
- What do I do if my business name changes?
If a business requires a change to Legal name/ABN details, then they must contact their certification body to enact this change.
- What if the key contact/sustainability manager resigns from the business?
Any change to a business’s profile or key contact information or other details provided on registration must be notified to the certification body in writing within 28 days of the change.
Where the person trained to implement the standard leaves a business, the business shall require a new trained representative to complete training within three (3) months.
- I am an international business purchasing Australian certified wine, how do I become certified?
International Wine Businesses purchasing Australian Certified Wine need to become certified to the Australian Wine Industry Standard of Sustainable Practice – Winery. A representative from the business must undertake training to understand the requirement of the standard. The business should contact BSI Group Australia to arrange a desktop audit or in some cases an in-person audit.
Contact BSI Group Australia: 1300 730 134 [email protected]
- What is Sustainable Winegrowing Australia?
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is Australia’s national program for grape growers and winemakers to demonstrate and continuously improve their sustainability in the vineyard and winery through their businesses' environmental, social, and economic aspects.
The program takes a holistic approach to managing, supporting and promoting sustainability. The Australian Wine Research Institute administers the program, with governance, endorsement and active support from Australian Grape & Wine and Wine Australia.
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is modelled on global best practices and aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with progress towards these monitored annually.
It provides a clear pathway to becoming a Certified Member, with the full support of the Australian Wine Research Institute along the way.
Certified members:
- Commit to triennial independent audits of the Freshcare Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice.
- Are identified by the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia trust mark – an assurance to customers and consumers of how the product is produced.
- Benefit from inclusion in Wine Australia’s marketing events programs, case studies, sustainability stories, and in Wine Australia’s education and content for customers and consumers.
- I’m a new member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia what is the connection to Freshcare?
Freshcare is the certification program owner that manages the development, application, and certification processes of the Freshcare Standards provided for voluntary use by industry.
The Freshcare Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice – Edition 1 in both Viticulture (AWISSP-VIT1), and Winery (AWISSP-WIN1), were developed to support the Australian Wine Industry and Sustainable Winegrowing Australia members.
Freshcare Certification to AWISSP-VIT1 and AWISSP-WIN1 is achieved through third-party audits on a triennial basis.
The Sustainable Winegrowing Australia trust mark has been released in conjunction with the Freshcare AWISSP-VIT1 and AWISSP-WIN1 Standards, for use by certified members on wine labels, communications, and marketing materials, to provide a visible demonstration of their commitment to sustainable practices. Customers and consumers will know from seeing the trust mark that the vineyard and winery have met rigorous standards of sustainability.
Certified members will also benefit from enhanced international marketing opportunities through Wine Australia’s marketing events programs and the integration of sustainability stories into Wine Australia’s education and content for customers and consumers.
- Why do I need to undertake Freshcare Training for the Sustainability Standards?
Training supports learning and program adoption and is an important component of all Freshcare Standards. Training ensures consistency in application, understanding and preparedness by participants in the Freshcare programs, and supports them to have all the tools needed to support their certification journey.
The requirement for Freshcare training in the AWISSP-VIT and AWISSP-WIN Standards is to ensure each participating business has at least one trained representative who oversees the management and ownership of the program.
Freshcare training supports the interpretation of the Standards' requirements, provides examples of the documents and record-keeping needed to be kept, and explains how to integrate the program for best practice.
It is acknowledged that some participants may have existing qualifications relevant to applying the Standards, however, participation in the Freshcare training component should still benefit those participants, providing an opportunity for a greater understanding of the program and insight into ways the individual or business can integrate it.
- How do I book an audit for the Freshcare Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice?
Audits to the Freshcare Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice (Viticulture or Winery), are required to be undertaken on a triennial basis for businesses to achieve and maintain certification.
When preparing for your first audit, it is recommended to have a minimum of 3 months of program records established.
To schedule and book your audit, contact one of Freshcare’s registered Certification Bodies here. Alternatively, complete the Audit Quote Request Form to receive a quote for audit from all available Certification Bodies.
