Winery Receives Zero Waste Certification

Fetzer Vineyards has received platinum level zero waste certification from the US Zero Waste Business Council, making it the first wine company to achieve zero waste certification.

Platinum certification, the highest level offered by the USZWBC, recognizes the company for successfully diverting 97.7 percent of its waste from landfill, incineration and the environment.

The company says this achievement shows that companies can create a closed loop system that is both profitable and sustainable.

The goal of businesses participating in the USZWBC Zero Waste Certification program is to drive their programs beyond recycling to zero waste analysis, leadership, purchasing and total participation. The goal of is to divert all end-use material from landfill, incineration and the environment, while achieving a minimum of 90 percent diversion based on the standards set by the Zero Waste International Alliance. Fetzer Vineyards is exceeding this by 7.7 percent.

To date, Fetzer Vineyards has reduced its environmental impact in the following areas:

• Diverted 97.7 percent of all waste from landfills and incineration in 2013 through recycling, reusing, and composting used materials.
• Diverted about 2,807 tons of total waste from landfill in 2013.
• Exceeded the California State Mandate of 75 percent diversion (AB341) by 2017.
• Reduced annual waste sent to the landfill by more than 96 percent since 1990.
• Composted 3.6 million pounds of grape skins, stems, and seeds in 2013, which is then reintroduced into its vineyards as fertilizer.
• Became the first winery in California to operate on 100 percent renewable energy in 1999.
• Saved more than $388,000 per year from disposal costs and including revenue for recycling.

In other zero-waste news, last week Eaton said its aerospace facility in Titchfield, UK, achieved zero waste to landfill through strategies such as recycling, re-use and new work processes.