Santa Rita releases sixth sustainability report

Leading South American wine producer, Santa Rita Estates, has published its sixth Sustainability Report, which focuses on environmental and social issues.

Compiled using GRI methodology, the report includes educational and cultural projects aimed at staff and the local community, in addition to improvements in the care for the environment.

“The tremendous challenges the pandemic has brought about has showed, once again, that the sustainability of our planet, of people and of economic activity is deeply interrelated. You cannot have one without the other”, said Elena Carretero, director of corporate affairs and sustainability at Santa Rita Estates.

“Sustainable growth, which is at the core of our business strategy, is only possible by having people at the centre of our work, a principle that guides our work, allowing for our company to project itself into the future”, she added.

The report, which tracks the company’s activities in Chile, Argentina and its commercial offices abroad, includes the alignment of its strategic sustainability plan to the sustainable development goals established in its 2030 agenda.

Among the main results highlighted in its sixth report with regards to social projects was the company’s focus on educational, cultural and health initiatives, aimed both at staff and their families, and the surrounding communities.

Between 2018 and 2019, there was a 19% increase in training hours for its staff, while education grants grew by 44% for workers and 98% for their children.

The company’s Territorial Valorization Program benefited 8,000 local students and teachers, helping to rescue winemaking traditions and the natural heritage of the area.

With regards to the environment, SRE successfully recertified under the Wines of Chile National Sustainability Code and the Bodegas de Argentina Sustainability Protocol, building on sustainable management on both sides of the Andes.

Its WiSe Project meanwhile, which started in 2014 as a way of ensuring the long-term viability of Santa Rita Estate’s vineyards, championed the planting of 1,000 hectares of new vineyards.

The winery adhered to the Clean Production Agreement for its main facility in Chile, the Buin plant, reusing and recycling 91% of its solid waste from 2018 to 2019. The firm also built a new distribution centre in Chile to better serve its global clients.