The Paarl producer 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 now offer a range of carbon neutral fruit and wines to clients, both domestically and internationally.
"Care for the environment means care and concern for succeeding generations. As custodians of the land, it is our duty to understand and recognise potential threats, and to mitigate against them for the benefit of the next generation," says proprietor Michael Back.
The carbon standard applied at Backsberg follows the Kyoto Protocol on Green House Gas emissions. The scientific nature of the carbon audit allows the estate 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 program in South Africa. This collaboration will see Backsberg use the Food and Trees for Africa Carbon Standard logo.
"We are indeed proud to be associated with Food and Trees for Africa," said Back, who believes that a whole new market sector with the emphasis on care, not only for the wine and the consumer but also care for the environment, is about to open.
Backsberg sees tree planting as part of a package of solutions to climate change and is currently either applying or reviewing a number of these options. This package includes conversion to biofuel, setting aside land for development of additional biomass, reviewing packaging (especially in terms of glass weight), and the development of methane digester technology.
"Backsberg will now deliver to wine lovers throughout the world fine wines, individually crafted within our wine making philosophy of producing wines with a high level of drinkability, which are also carbon neutral," added Back.
Based on a media release issued by GC Communications on behalf of Backsberg Estate Cellars