Barossa Australia, the region’s peak body for grape growers and winemakers, has embarked on a three-phase project to reduce carbon emissions and encourage sustainability in the industry.
In partnership with Adelaide consultancy Colby Phillips Advisory, Barossa Australia seeks to aid wine producers, glass bottle manufacturers and “Green Gas” producers in providing net-zero emissions glass wine bottles for domestic and international markets. The initiative is supported by a $100,000 Lead-Educate-Assist-Promote (LEAP) Grant from Green Industries South Australia (GISA).
“We are hugely committed to the opportunity to translate innovative thinking into tangible and positive outcomes for the sector and the environment,” said Scott Hazeldine, CEO of Barossa Australia.
The first phase of the project is the development of a zero carbon bottle concept, followed by providing new “Green Gas” retail products for wine producers to reduce Scope 1 emissions at their own wineries. The final phase is conducting a feasibility study of an anaerobic digestion plant in the Barossa Valley, with the goal of using local agricultural waste to produce and provide “Green Gas” into the local gas supply network.
Barossa Australia hopes that the project will be an example for other regions seeking to decarbonize their supply chains.
“These initiatives will contribute to decarbonization and circularisation of the wine industry. They can create substantial new investment and job opportunities in the Barossa and other regions across Australia too,” Hazeldine commented.
“The project sets a precedent for Australia, which has faced challenges in terms of regulatory support, incentives, and supply chain consensus. Barossa Australia’s unique approach bridges this gap by fostering collaboration among major stakeholders across the supply chain to establish a planned and scalable long-term solution,” he added.
The project is scheduled for completion by December 2024, and the net zero carbon bottle design is expected to be released later this year. Results will be released to stakeholders and the wider public as the project achieves outcomes.