Toitū & Technology: On the road to net zero

At the Toitū & Technology conference in Blenheim on 31 August, participants heard of the urgent need to transition to a low emissions future to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Ben Nistor, from Toitū Envirocare, explains that levels of warming higher than 1.5C will have a catastrophic effect on global wine production. “The research that’s out there suggests that under the two degrees warming scenario, Spain will lose up to 65% of its wine grown, and Italy, Greece and – most notably – France will become inhospitable to grape growth by 2050. And in Australia in the next 25 years, most areas currently growing grapes won’t be growing as they are today. So that is a pretty staggering effect.”

In New Zealand, the higher levels of warming will significantly impact which grape varieties can viably be grown across the country. Research has shown that global greenhouse gas emissions must halve by 2030 and reach zero by the middle of the century to avoid the worst climate impacts. Ben outlines that while government has stated New Zealand must reach carbon zero by 2050, there is also huge consumer demand for industries such as the wine sector to reduce emissions considerably. “Businesses need to start taking action and making commitments beyond what is directly under their control,” he says. “So starting to think about the full supply chain, the value chain of your products, how you can work collectively with others in the industry to build the ecosystem to enable the swift transition to a low emissions future."

For those beginning the journey, measuring and monitoring emissions is the best place to start, explains Ben. Positive changes then focus on understanding such aspects as fuel and water use, the carbon footprint of your supply chain, and any raw materials used.

Toitū offers businesses the chance to achieve net carbonzero certification, which is verified following the internationally recognised ISO 14064-1 standard. Lawson’s Dry Hills is one wine company that has already gained carbonzero status through the Toitū process, having met the requirements of ISO14064.

Belinda Jackson, Marketing Manager for the company, says sustainability is becoming increasingly important for those making purchasing decisions, so the company’s environmental credentials only add further value for consumers. Steps the company has taken to achieve the accreditation have included a dramatic reduction in diesel, improving vineyard practices (including fewer passes through rows thanks to machinery upgrades) changing to plug-in hybrid vehicles, reducing water use and capturing rainwater, and introducing better recycling processes. “There’s a lot of other smaller components, but together, they really do make a difference. The result for us is that we use 37% less power, and 44% less water compared to the industry average for other wineries our size. This is totally achievable – if we can do it, there are a lot of others that can do it too.”

Conference organiser Nicky Grandorge, Leadership and Communities Manager at New Zealand Winegrowers, says the wine industry is generally well positioned to adapt to a carbon zero future. “We understand the importance of healthy soils and biodiversity, as well as the long-term and immediate impact of the change in weather patterns, causing droughts and floods,” she says. “Without a doubt, there are challenges ahead. But as innovators and early adopters of some of these technologies and techniques, we can forge ahead and highlight to the world that we can produce high-quality wines whilst reducing our carbon emissions and protecting our planet.”

Driving Change

Hyundai Motors New Zealand took the opportunity of the Toitū & Technology conference to debunk some myths surrounding electric vehicles. Conrad Healy, presenting on behalf of Hyundai, says that while progress is being made, it is still a massive undertaking to decarbonise the transport sector by 2050. Commonly expressed reservations about electric vehicles (EVs) include range anxiety, the claim that batteries will end up in landfill, that EVs can’t do the job of a ute, and that they can’t tow. Conrad explains that the range question is less of an issue with many models capable of 500km or more on a single charge, while many drivers realise that for most trips EVs are perfect – particularly without the need to fill the tank at almost $3 a litre.

In terms of battery degradation, Hyundai sees very little of that, with five-year-old models still achieving the same range as when they were delivered. And batteries are simply too valuable to dump into landfills. With bigger batteries and longer ranges, many EVs are capable of towing, although a full replacement for the trusty ute is more likely to be in the form of a hybrid or plug-in hybrid. “So we can see that some of the perceived issues are no longer a problem. And with the rapid rate of change within the industry, more of these problems will no longer apply,” says Conrad . “Are EVs the whole answer? Probably not, but they are part of the answer, definitely.”