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Chilean wine producers look to sustainability

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By illuminem briefings

· 3 min read


illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Forbes or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Chilean wine producers have positioned sustainability as a strategic priority, with 90 wineries — representing 80% of bottled wine exports — now certified under the Sustainability Code of Vinos de Chile
Since its launch in 2011, the voluntary standard has guided producers in addressing environmental, social, and governance challenges across vineyards, production processes, and community engagement
Industry leaders now see sustainability not just as environmental stewardship but as a competitive advantage in global markets

🔭 The context: Chile’s wine industry began developing its sustainability framework in 2007, formalising it as a public–private initiative by 2011
The Code was among the first formal, industry-wide sustainability standards in global winemaking, addressing growing consumer demand for ethical and environmentally responsible production
Chile’s Mediterranean climate and biodiversity are both a strength and a responsibility for its viticulture, which spans over 300,000 acres of planted vineyards, including nearly 15,000 acres organic or biodynamic

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: With climate change threatening water availability, soil health, and biodiversity in key wine-growing regions, initiatives like Chile’s set an important precedent for resilience in agriculture
Certified wineries are reducing water use, cutting carbon footprints (already averaging 2.53 kg CO₂e per litre), preserving 99,000 acres of native ecosystems, and investing in renewable energy
By embedding biodiversity, social equity, and circular economy principles, Chile’s approach demonstrates how agricultural industries can align profitability with long-term planetary health

⏭️ What's next: Over the next two decades, Chilean wineries aim to further reduce carbon intensity and water use while expanding regenerative agriculture and biodiversity corridors
Compliance with Chile’s REP law on packaging waste will accelerate the transition to sustainable materials
Stakeholders will also watch for how these sustainability commitments translate into international market differentiation and support Chile’s national goal of carbon neutrality by 2050

💬 One quote: “The only way we make premium wines of excellence is by taking care of and protecting our land and people" — Julio Alonso, Wines of Chile’s North America executive director

📈 One stat: Certified wineries preserve 99,000 acres of non-productive land for biodiversity — almost seven times the area of Manhattan

Explore carbon credit purchases, total emissions, and climate targets of thousands of companies on Data Hub™ — the first platform designed to help sustainability providers generate sales leads!

Click for more news covering the latest on sustainable agriculture

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