Local wine makers may have started grumbling about the return from their investment in CarboNZero certification process, but the programme could be trapped on the greenhouse gas roundabout.Sustainability is a big business and New Zealand wines in particul
Local wine makers may have started grumbling about the return from their investment in CarboNZero certification process, but the programme could be trapped on the greenhouse gas roundabout.
Sustainability is a big business and New Zealand wines in particular have seen the benefits of showing off their green credentials as much as possible.
One of the most high profile ways to show those green roots is through the Landcare-managed CarboNZero, which measures, manages and mitigates a business’ greenhouse gas emissions.
But while the world might be warming, the wine industry’s attitude towards the programme is cooling, with industry complaints about the cost of accreditation and return on that investment.
Accreditation can costs thousands of dollars to cover the costs of ensuring compliance and some wine growers – including Grove Mill, the world’s first carbon neutral winery – say the programme’s marketing efforts to build customer awareness are not up to scratch.
Landcare has defended its marketing programme, pointing to an increase in advertising over the past few months.
But for the CarboNZero to go further would require an increase in resources for the programme – leading to the paradox of creating carbon in an effort to stop it.
Any form of increased bureaucracy will inevitably result in more emissions, from staff travelling around the country to the increased amount of carbon that would come with the running of a larger office.
For Landcare to do more – as has been demanded – it could be eating into the total reduced emission amount.
In the eternal climate change debate, doing something is probably better than nothing, but doing too much can defeat the whole purpose.
