A Vital Resource
RESOURCESAir is the essential element to life. Main oxygen vector strongly linked to biological life, air is the engine of the vital functions of organisms, and of all the activities carried out by human beings for their survival. However, even today as yesterday, there are progressive changes in this vital resource, caused by man and his footprint, which emit carbon dioxide and other substances harmful to health and the environment into the atmosphere. In this context, looking for the most appropriate solutions to reduce its impact on the environment becomes first-rate and in the environmental field, Firriato stands out in Sicily for its constant commitment to the protection of this vital resource within and around the world. of its processing and transformation activities. Already in January 2014, the company was among the wineries in Italy to obtain ISO 14064 certification for the reduction and containment of greenhouse gases. Issued by DNV, the most prestigious and qualified environmental certifier at international level – this certification has allowed the company to estimate its CO2 emissions and, therefore, to have that fundamental parameter on which to build new dynamics of control and reduction of emissions. From the arrival of the grapes to the refinement in the bottle, the monitoring of emissions affects all the processes in the cellar, Firriato has also focused on its supply chain to reduce and manage its carbon footprint, since the greatest amount of greenhouse gas emissions. The quantification of emissions was carried out at the vineyards and cellars of the countryside of Trapani and Etna.
A Vital Resource
A Vital ResourceAir is the essential element to life. Main oxygen vector strongly linked to biological life, air is the engine of the vital functions of organisms, and of all the activities carried out by human beings for their survival. However, even today as yesterday, there are progressive changes in this vital resource, caused by man and his footprint, which emit carbon dioxide and other substances harmful to health and the environment into the atmosphere.
In this context, looking for the most appropriate solutions to reduce its impact on the environment becomes first-rate and in the environmental field, Firriato stands out in Sicily for its constant commitment to the protection of this vital resource within and around the world. of its processing and transformation activities.Already in January 2014, the company was among the wineries in Italy to obtain ISO 14064 certification for the reduction and containment of greenhouse gases. Issued by DNV, the most prestigious and qualified environmental certifier at international level – this certification has allowed the company to estimate its CO2 emissions and, therefore, to have that fundamental parameter on which to build new dynamics of control and reduction of emissions. From the arrival of the grapes to the refinement in the bottle, the monitoring of emissions affects all the processes in the cellar, Firriato has also focused on its supply chain to reduce and manage its carbon footprint, since the greatest amount of greenhouse gas emissions. The quantification of emissions was carried out at the vineyards and cellars of the countryside of Trapani and Etna.
How we reduce emissions and improve air quality
Environmental sustainability passes through an important but equally complex process: that of reducing its emissions and improving overall air quality. Firriato has always been a pioneer on this issue, from the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions to the actions taken to reduce them. In order to achieve these objectives, nothing is left to chance and in all phases in the vineyard and in the cellar, up to the bottles delivered to their destination, it is kept under strict control to achieve the highest possible environmental sustainability.
Vineyard
Agronomic practices according to precision viticulture allow us to reduce the interventions in the vineyard to a minimum, while following the characteristics of the year. Treatments, irrigations and processes are reduced to the minimum; energy used for each action and the consequent emissions are minimized. In addition to prudent purchases, where the most important equipment, such as tractors, excavators or pumps or other, are selected according to energy efficiency and low emissions.
Cellar
Cellar design has allowed Firriato to have a very low incidence of energy consumption and consequent emissions. The natural thermal insulations, such as the Etna cellar, or those created ad hoc according to the dictates of bio-architecture such as that of Paceco allow us to minimize the use of energy and therefore of consequent emissions for the regulation of temperatures. Similarly, the same concept is adopted for handling of wine and musts, which takes place by exploiting the force of gravity where possible. The rest is guaranteed by energy-efficient systems such as bottling or heating the washing water.
Transport / Sale
In the final stages of the production process greenhouse gas emissions are mainly consequent to the transport of the bottles due to their weight or the means used to transport them. Firriato has been undertaking for years a campaign to lighten the bottles which over the years has led to a considerable reduction in the weight carried and therefore a consequent reduction in emissions. Shipments are carried out only with low-impact transport per kg transported.
How we reduce emissions and improve air quality
Environmental sustainability passes through an important but equally complex process: that of reducing its emissions and improving overall air quality. Firriato has always been a pioneer on this issue, from the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions to the actions taken to reduce them. In order to achieve these objectives, nothing is left to chance and in all phases in the vineyard and in the cellar, up to the bottles delivered to their destination, it is kept under strict control to achieve the highest possible environmental sustainability.
Vineyard
Agronomic practices according to precision viticulture allow us to reduce the interventions in the vineyard to a minimum, while following the characteristics of the year. Treatments, irrigations and processes are reduced to the minimum; energy used for each action and the consequent emissions are minimized. In addition to prudent purchases, where the most important equipment, such as tractors, excavators or pumps or other, are selected according to energy efficiency and low emissions.
Cellar
Cellar design has allowed Firriato to have a very low incidence of energy consumption and consequent emissions. The natural thermal insulations, such as the Etna cellar, or those created ad hoc according to the dictates of bio-architecture such as that of Paceco allow us to minimize the use of energy and therefore of consequent emissions for the regulation of temperatures. Similarly, the same concept is adopted for handling of wine and musts, which takes place by exploiting the force of gravity where possible. The rest is guaranteed by energy-efficient systems such as bottling or heating the washing water.
Transport / Sale
In the final stages of the production process greenhouse gas emissions are mainly consequent to the transport of the bottles due to their weight or the means used to transport them. Firriato has been undertaking for years a campaign to lighten the bottles which over the years has led to a considerable reduction in the weight carried and therefore a consequent reduction in emissions. Shipments are carried out only with low-impact transport per kg transported.
Emissions are divided into three macro categories
Data indicate company's production process is clean, with no direct or indirect input above the average, so much so that direct gas emissions are less than 10%.
CO2 emissions %
KG CO2 emissions % e
CO2 emissions %
KG CO2 emissions % e
Towards zero impact
RESOURCESTowards zero impact
RESOURCES
Once this calculation has been made, Firriato requests and obtains the EN: ISO14064-1 certification which is valid for two years, this means that a third party certifying body, the DNV-GL in our case, analyzes these data and confirms that the analyzes have been carried out rigorously and correctly, including the entire reference perimeter, in our case the entire production process. At the same time, the certifying body verifies that all the actions aimed at reducing emissions that the company had included in the previous plan have been implemented.
The remaining footprint was canceled through the support of specific environmental protection activities in emerging economy countries. Firriato has thus participated in reforestation works, through projects carried out within the VCS (Verified Carbon Standard), which have led to the planting of new hectares of rainforests in tropical areas, helping to block the deforestation of these places and to preserve their biodiversity. Furthermore, also in these countries, the company has joined projects to produce sustainable energy through the use of alternative sources.
Adherence to these environmental protection activities, a concrete expression of the green attitude with which Firriato’s production project has distinguished itself from the very beginning, has made it possible to bring greenhouse gas emissions to zero, calculated thanks to the use of a certified algorithm which awarded the company the Carbon Neutrality certification.
gas emissions
Using the rigorous scientific standards of the ISO14060 family norms, Firriato calculates, the balance of greenhouse gas emissions , every 2 years. Budget is the result of the calculation of the activities carried out in the two-year period of reference, if an investment aimed at reducing emissions has achieved the desired effect, it will be seen at this stage. The budget also includes the so-called “seizures”, all the activities carried out by the company to technically remove greenhouse gases from the environment. A clear example is tree cultivation or spontaneous grassing. At the same time, an action plan is drawn up aimed at further reducing these emissions year by year through targeted initiatives and investments.
-41% of emissions
Once this calculation has been made, Firriato requests and obtains the EN: ISO14064-1 certification which is valid for two years, this means that a third party certifying body, the DNV-GL in our case, analyzes these data and confirms that the analyzes have been carried out rigorously and correctly, including the entire reference perimeter, in our case the entire production process. At the same time, the certifying body verifies that all the actions aimed at reducing emissions that the company had included in the previous plan have been implemented.
for emissions
Firriato now knows with certainty what its surplus of emissions to compensate is, therefore, always under the control of a certifying body, it makes investments to compensate, for the reference time cycle, the quantity, expressed in tons of CO2 equivalent, of emissions . Firriato has been carrying out these activities for years by providing certified reforestation programs using the VCS / VERRA standard of rainforests or by bringing renewable electricity to third world economies that would otherwise get their supplies from highly polluting sources. Thanks to these actions, the emissions balance is brought to zero.
certified
Through these certified offset projects, Firriato obtains a certificate, usable only once, called âcarbon creditâ or âcarbon offsetâ. The certifying body, where having verified that the entire process was carried out in accordance with international standards, declares that Firriato is Carbon Neutral, that is, its footprint of emissions with respect to the entire production cycle is zero, neutral with respect to the environment.
The remaining footprint was canceled through the support of specific environmental protection activities in emerging economy countries. Firriato has thus participated in reforestation works, through projects carried out within the VCS (Verified Carbon Standard), which have led to the planting of new hectares of rainforests in tropical areas, helping to block the deforestation of these places and to preserve their biodiversity. Furthermore, also in these countries, the company has joined projects to produce sustainable energy through the use of alternative sources. Adherence to these environmental protection activities, a concrete expression of the green attitude with which Firriato’s production project has distinguished itself from the very beginning, has made it possible to bring greenhouse gas emissions to zero, calculated thanks to the use of a certified algorithm which awarded the company the Carbon Neutrality certification.
Not only reduction of emissions but also social responsibility
The company’s commitment to protecting the environment in offsetting CO2 emissions. It is demonstrated by joining two international projects in the field of forest planting and supply clean energy to developing countries. In this sense, Firriato’s green commitment is realized through the participation in reforestation operations promoted by Verra, of the rainforests of Madagascar and the active participation in projects for the installation of a wind power plant of 45 MW connected to the MMTC network in Karnataka (India). The green commitment also brings with it significant benefits not only for the environment but also in the involvement of local populations.
Not only reduction of emissions but also social responsibility
The company’s commitment to protecting the environment in offsetting CO2 emissions. It is demonstrated by joining two international projects in the field of forest planting and supply clean energy to developing countries. In this sense, Firriato’s green commitment is realized through the participation in reforestation operations promoted by Verra, of the rainforests of Madagascar and the active participation in projects for the installation of a wind power plant of 45 MW connected to the MMTC network in Karnataka (India). The green commitment also brings with it significant benefits not only for the environment but also in the involvement of local populations.
We started by planting the first tree and we never stopped, we have now reached 1089 trees planted in the rainforest of Madagascar. Trees provide a huge contribution against climate change and pollution; in fact, during their growth and with chlorophyll photosynthesis, they absorb CO2 from the atmosphere “conserving” it inside them and releasing it into the air. Trees also help us to preserve the habitat of animals, insects and other plant forms, so it is a true protection of biodiversity. Life in nature uses trees for food, shelter, nesting, reproduction and life. Trees reduce soil erosion and desertification and, above all, help us keep the soil fertile. Trees help prevent water pollution; forests provide natural filtration by purifying the water and making it cleaner. In addition to protecting the environment and biodiversity, planting trees gives us the opportunity to create jobs and a culture of environmental protection in communities where, through our adhesion to international projects, there is more need. These communities are involved in the planning and implementation of reforestation projects and local farmers are financially incentivized to plant trees and care for them for life instead of deforesting for their subsistence economy. Do you want to adopt one? Learn more at tree.firriato.it
Can we think of offsetting emissions without thinking about the future? Obviously not! This is why we have decided to join a very important VCS certified project in which we contribute to bringing renewable energy to the economies of the third world. In this way, in addition to offsetting our emissions, we have two other important objectives of an environmental and social nature. First of all, we bring electricity to populations who do not have it, and secondly, we avoid producing electricity using cheap but highly polluting methods such as coal! This is why we have joined the installation of a 15MW plant in Karnataka in India, one of the poorest areas in the area
