Ever since its inception, green initiatives and sustainability have been an important part of the EWGA’s vision. We believe that protecting the environment is our collective responsibility and everyone should do their part, no matter how big or small. To that point, we constantly evaluate all aspects of our business to reflect our commitment to being a sustainable wine importer and supplier.
In 2025, we made the switch from traditional diesel to HVO fuel across our delivery fleet. HVO is a 100% renewable diesel alternative made from waste oils and fats, offering up to 90% lower greenhouse gas emissions.
This move significantly reduces the environmental impact of our local wine deliveries and reflects our ongoing commitment to finding practical, immediate solutions to lower our carbon footprint.
In 2022, we took part in the MaCaW project with UCLAN which resulted in the creation of a low-carbon economic model. This led to the installation of solar panels and energy-efficient equipment.
By 2023, our office and warehouse operations had become carbon neutral. Solar panels were installed on warehouse roofs, and our sales staff adopted electric vehicles.
In 2021, our fleet was joined by the first fully electric delivery van, marking the beginning of our ‘green’ wine deliveries. Since then, additional electric cars have been introduced for our sales staff, and today, every member of the sales team drives an electric car.
To support our growing electric fleet, we have installed high-voltage charging points, allowing our vehicles to be powered by the renewable energy generated from our on-site solar panels.
In 2024, we achieved ISO 14001 accreditation for our Environmental Management Systems, an achievement that recognises the work we have undertaken to reduce our environmental impact. We have implemented a structured framework to improve our environmental performance, reduce our impact, and ensure continued compliance with environmental regulations.
This accreditation is a major milestone in our sustainability journey.
We are a member of the SME Climate Hub, joining more than 3,000 UK businesses committed to making a positive impact on the environment.
We are members of the Harpers Sustainability Charter, a drinks industry initiative that champions sustainable best practices within our business and across the wider industry.
Waste reduction and recycling are key parts of our internal sustainability efforts. We are avid recyclers, and re-use what packaging we can to minimise waste.
In 2022, we removed all the use of plastic from our courier packaging. Our new protective packaging is recyclable, biodegradable and made from sustainably sourced materials.
We have implemented a range of energy-saving policies, including the use of low-energy LED lighting across our premises and timer-controlled office air conditioning.
We work with wine producers who are committed to sustainability and are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint. All of our major partner growers are accredited by recognised sustainability bodies in their home countries.
Together with our producers, we aim to bring more sustainable and carbon-conscious wines to the UK market.
We use sea freight wherever possible and ship our key wine ranges in flexitanks before bottling. This method of shipping emits the lowest amount of CO₂ per tonne-kilometre compared to any other transport method.
European shipments are consolidated and transported primarily by rail and sea, reducing emissions by up to 75% compared to road transport.
