• Sustainability

    Sustainability

MADEIRA WINE COMPANY

Sustainability Report

The Madeira Wine industry over hundreds of years has always played an important role on the island and we are very fortunate to be part of that history. As a family business with over more than 210 years of experience, we are always looking at ways to ensure that the business is passed on the next generation in the best state possible. In recent times, we have had to become much more aware of the rapid changes required to defend the sustainability of the business and to safeguard the social, environmental and economic impact that this industry has on the island. We have a commitment to work with all of our stakeholders to protect the future of this unique wine.

bcorp logo no border grayB Corp Certified

The journey started in March 2020 and as from December 2022, our company is B Corp certified. Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. It’s allowed us to measure everything and make the necessary changes to align with our view on the future.

Being a generational family business and part of the B Corp movement allows us to work towards leaving the company, its stakeholders and the planet in a better place for the next generation.

ASAS LogoASAS – Ajuda Solidária Ambiental e Social

Through our social and environmental program ASAS, the Company has a 3-year plan to develop our presence on our island through environmental and social programs.

Quality Control Certificates

ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System

Obliges the company to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, and aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

People & Community

We have created specific HR programs for our staff at the company, that include programs on health and wellness and health risk assessment, life skills training for staff and their families, sponsored programs for continued educational credentials and external professional development opportunities. We also provide financial support to those members of staff whose children attend University. Members of the company also work on individual social projects in the less favoured communities around the island.

Through the Blandy Group, we have also developed the Blandy Academic Scholarships that are accessible to those students at the University of Madeira (UMa) who have financial difficulties and high academic performance.

Every year the group donates to a list of charitable associations, that can be found https://www.blandy.com/en/

Vineyards

The company manages 3 vineyards totalling 5.7 hectares. In our largest vineyard at Quinta de São Jorge on the north of the island, we are currently working to certify the vineyard with an “Integrated Production” certification. We use ducks, chickens and sheep to help us look after pests and weeds (which being on a fertile, sub-tropical, humid island, weed growth is a constant!) and after each harvest, we return all winery residual biomass, such as stalks and grape skins and seeds, back into the vineyards as fertilizer.

During 2023 we will initiate a R&D program together with the University of Madeira to work on understanding the impacts of climate change on viticulture on the island, whilst also developing a project to implement “Precision Agriculture” in our vineyards.

We are also developing with ViniPortugal, “The National Reference for Sustainability Certification” throughout the company and working with over 330 individual growers throughout the year to support them in developing best practices on their family properties.

2022 KG production of MWC own sites:
Quinta de São Jorge, São Jorge Quinta da Santa Luzia, Funchal Freguesia Fajã da Ovelha
Malvasia
Verdelho
Sercial
31,000
2,400
450
Bual
Verdelho
Terrantez (1400m2)
8,800
1,900
550
Verdelho
Terrantez (600m2)

5,000
500

33.95t 11.25t 5.5t
4.25ha vines / 6ha under lease 0.93ha vines / 3.5ha Quinta 0.7ha (3 producers)

Production

Changes over the years:

  • In 2014 we installed 440 solar panels, with the potential to produce 55,000 kWh of electricity, resulting in an annual 28% electricity reduction.
  • 2 new solar heating water systems to use when cleaning the equipment and for the team’s showers.
  • Installed a system to monitor our internal carbon footprint and regularly look for ways to improve our efficiency and reduce our footprint.
  • Moving all of our company cars to hybrid or electric cars.
  • Removed all single use plastics (coffee cups, water bottles, etc.) and replaced them with sustainable alternatives.
  • In 2020 we took the decision to change the bottle type of all our 3-year-old wines, to a bottle that is 35% lighter. In a normal year, the total weight reduction would be approximately 61,180 kgs. We also took the decision to replace our traditional plastic T-Top stopper to a wooden T-Top stopper, using wood from a sustainable source.

Plans for the next 3 years

  • Certify the company with the certificate, ISO14064 – Greenhouse Gases
  • Apply for International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA)
  • Reduce the amount of CO2 produced per litre of wine sold by 40%
  • Reduce the amount of water consumer per litre of wine sold by 25%
  • Double the solar panel potential
  • Improve recycling systems.

 

BRC 8 (British Retail Consortium) certification - Classification AA+

The BRCGS Global Food Safety Standard has set the benchmark for nearly 25 years. Adopted by over 22,000 sites in more than 130 countries, the standard is accepted by 70% of the top 10 global retailers, 60% of the top 10 quick-service restaurants, and 50% of the top 25 manufacturers.

Developed with input from industry, it provides a framework to manage product safety, integrity, legality and quality, and the operational controls for these criteria in the food and food ingredient manufacturing, processing and packing industry.

  • We periodically promote environmental and social solidarity actions. If you wish to submit your suggestion regarding solidarity initiatives and projects that may eventually be supported by the company, you should send an email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Madeira Wine Company Logo
Madeira Wine Company
  • Plataforma 3, Pavilhão T
    Zona Franca Industrial da Madeira
    9200-047 Caniçal
    Madeira – Portugal

    Tel: (+351) 291740 100
    (call to national fixed network)

    e: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
    w: www.madeirawinecompany.com

Blandy's Wine Lodge
  • Avenida Arriaga 28,
    9000-064 Funchal,
    Madeira – Portugal


    Tel: (+351) 291 228 978
    (call to national fixed network)

    e: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    w: www.blandyswinelodge.com


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