South Africa’s wine industry was ranked just one place down from US President Barack Obama when it comes to building public awareness of environmental issues.

WOSA made the Top 5 on the 2009 Green List compelled by the UK magazine, The Drinks Business. This Green List lists the 50 most influential drinks companies, individuals and organisations with “a strong environmental influence over many consumers”.

The first three places were taken by multinational retail giants Tesco, Carrefour and Wal-Mart, with President Obama in fourth place. WOSA’s recognition was due to their involvement with the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI), a project jointly managed by WWF and the Botanical Society of South Africa and funded by The Green Trust, a partnership between WWF and Nedbank.

The Drinks Business praised WOSA for its involvement in BWI, a strategic partnership between the wine industry and the conservation sector, its adoption of biodiversity guidelines and its focus on environmental impact studies.

Sue Birch, Chief Executive of WOSA, said: “That we are in the company of the world’s most powerful retail chains, who are able to exercise significant influence, as well as the new and highly popular president of the United States, makes us feel extremely proud!”

She lauded the role of BWI in promoting and protecting biodiversity within the Cape Floral Kingdom, where over 95 per cent of the country’s wines originate. “In less than four years, 140 local wine producers, under the auspices of BWI, have set aside 112,550 hectares for long-term conservation. This is significantly more than the total national vineyard footprint of 102,000 hectares.”

Well done WOSA. It is a great accomplishment for the SA wine industry and I hope the whole industry follows by supporting and creating similar environmental efforts. 

Source: panda.org