Backsberg combats climate change
2007-03-29
THE Backsberg winery in Paarl has become the first wine producer in South Africa and one of only three in the world to gain Carbon Neutral status by sequestrating its carbon emissions.
Proprietor Michael Back is passionate about the environment.
Backsberg has completed a comprehensive carbon audit initiated to understand the carbon emission consequences of its farming and wine making activities.
The carbon audit reviewed all activities from overall energy consumption, to CO2 emitted during fermentation.
The level of detail considered in the audit allows Backsberg to deliver a range of Carbon Neutral fruit and wine to clients, both domestically and internationally.
The scientific nature of the carbon audit allows Backsberg to understand the magnitude of the sequestration solutions it needs to seek and develop, in order to reduce its carbon footprint and maintain a status of carbon neutrality going forward.
The sequestration solutions developed by Backsberg will involve a greening program within the nearby village of Klapmuts.
This program will be managed by the internationally respected Jeunesse Park, CEO of Food and Trees for Africa, the non-profit national greening organisation driving the Carbon Standard offset programme in South Africa.
“Trees are the most efficient and simple means for us to store carbon, providing us with the air we breathe and absorbing the carbon dioxide we exhale and that is emitted in large quantities by our carbon based society,” says Park
"Whilst tree planting is crucial to the absorption of greenhouse gas emissions, it is equally important to develop more conservation oriented practices by becoming more energy efficient for long term sustainability," says Back.
More
News
|
