EWGA WINES

SUSTAINABILITY

WHY WE CARE?

Ever since its inception, green initiatives and sustainability were an important part of the company’s vision. At EWGA Wines we believe that protecting the environment is our collective responsibility and everyone should do their part, no matter how big or small. To that point, we constantly evaluate all aspects of our business to reflect our commitment to being a sustainable wine importer and supplier.

Solar Powered

In 2022, we took part in the MaCaW project with UCLAN which resulted in the creation of a low-carbon economic model. This led to the installation of solar panels and energy-efficient equipment.

By 2023, our office and warehouse operations had become carbon neutral. Solar panels were installed on warehouse roofs, and our sales staff adopted electric vehicles.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

In 2021, our fleet was joined by the first fully electric delivery van – kickstarting our ‘green’ wine deliveries. Further electric cars were added for use by our sales staff and now the whole sales team drives electric.

To facilitate these vehicles, we have installed high-voltage electric chargers, so our electric fleet can charge using all green energy generated from our solar panels.

ISO 14001 ACCREDITATION

In 2024, we achieved ISO 14001 accreditation for environmental management systems, marking a major step forward in our sustainability journey. We have implemented a structured framework to improve our environmental performance and ensure continued compliance with environmental regulations.

This accreditation is a major milestone on our sustainable journey.

SME Climate hub

We are part of the SME Climate Hub, where together with over 3000 UK businesses we work to have a positive impact on the environment.

Green awards finalists

In 2022, we were recognised for our green initiatives and got shortlisted for the Green Company of the Year in DrinksBusiness’s Green Awards.

Sustainability Charter

We are members of the Harpers Sustainability Charter, a drinks industry initiative to champion sustainable best practices in our business and the wider industry.

RECYCLING

Waste reduction and recycling are key parts of our internal sustainability efforts. We are avid recyclers and re-use what packaging we can to minimise litter.

Packaging

In 2022, we removed all the use of plastic from our courier packaging. Our new protective packaging is recyclable, biodegradable and made from sustainably sourced materials.

Plastics Policy

We removed or replaced all products from our portfolio that contained single-use plastics. No more plastic bottles and all the glass and cardboard that we use are recyclable.

Energy Saving

We have a host of energy-saving policies in place. Our office air conditioning is set on a timer and we only use low energy LED lightbulbs on our premises.

SUSTAINABLE WINEMAKERS

We work with wine producers who care about sustainability and are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint. All our major partner growers are accredited by their domestic bodies.

We work with our wine partners with the aim of introducing more carbon-neutral wines into the UK market.

SHIPPING WINE IN BULK

We use sea freight where possible and ship our key wine ranges un-bottled in flexitanks. This method of shipping emits the lowest amount of CO2 per tonne-kilometre compared to any other transport method.

European loads are consolidated and use mainly rail or sea freight, reducing emissions by 75% compared to road transport.