Webinar replay: NZ wine industry's roadmap to net zero
New Zealand Winegrowers have released a bold vision: the New Zealand Wine Roadmap to Net Zero 2050. The roadmap sets ambitious targets for 2030, 2040 and 2050, and highlights practical ways for vineyards and wineries to innovate, reduce emissions and build resilience.
In this webinar, Edwin Massey, General Manager Sustainability at New Zealand Winegrowers, and Rosie Dodd, Senior Sustainability Specialist at thinkstep-anz, discuss what the roadmap means for protecting and enhancing New Zealand’s reputation as a world leader in sustainable wine production.
Ed outlined why sustainability is critical to the industry’s success and reputation, while Rosie explained the technical roadmap process, including emissions data, reduction strategies, and how the plan supports continuous improvement and supply chain collaboration.
Watch the webinar replay, or scroll down for a summary
Ed’s top takeaways
- Sustainability is core to the industry
It underpins brand value, consumer trust, and New Zealand’s social license to operate. - Scope 3 emissions dominate
Especially from packaging (over 50% of total emissions) and transport (21%). - Packaging is the biggest carbon hotspot
Lightweighting and alternative packaging options are vital. - Diesel use in vineyards needs change
Most diesel is used in tractors, with electrification as a long-term solution. - No silver bullet
Progress requires broad, systemic changes and cross-sector collaboration, not single fixes.
Rosie’s top takeaways
- The roadmap provides a flexible long-term guide
It's designed to support ongoing action, even with imperfect data. - Structured in three timeframes
Actions are planned for 2030 (efficiency), 2040 (fossil fuel divestment), and 2050 (deep decarbonisation). - Controllable vs uncontrollable levers
Helps organisations focus on what they can influence directly. - Start with energy efficiency
It’s the most feasible early action with immediate benefits. - Financial viability and emissions impact guide decisions
All reduction options were assessed based on feasibility, cost, and carbon reduction potential.
Ed and Rosie didn’t have time to answer all the audience’s questions during the webinar, so we’ve captured the outstanding ones below along with their answers.
Q: How are NZ Wine planning on engaging procurement teams across each winery to try and drive initiatives to decarbonise the big hitting areas in Scope 3 like packaging and transport or will NZ Wine try to reach out to key suppliers on behalf of members?
A: NZW (NZ Wine) works closely with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) to support members on their decarbonisation journey. EECA were partners in helping to deliver the Roadmap to Net Zero. The EECA wine industry decarbonisation pathway is a great place to start. NZW also works closely with key industry partners like Wineworks and Quayconnect to help promote transport innovation such as the Marlborough Inland Port to promote efficiency and emissions reduction.
Q: How are you planning to support wine growers with monitoring and reducing their on-farm carbon emissions?
A: NZW supports wine growers to monitor emissions through Sustainable Winegrowing NZ (SWNZ) individualised benchmarking reports. These reports enable members to benchmark where they are relative to other like businesses in their region and help inform business decisions to invest in reduction initiatives. NZW also provides educational resources such as webinars on alternative packaging options and highlighting best practice across industry in this area.
Q: How does this roadmap compare with roadmaps for the wine sector in other countries? Will this put us ahead of the others?
A: The Roadmap to Net Zero has revealed some key advantages when compared to other countries such as NZ's high reliance on renewable energy, the highest recycled glass content of any glass produced globally and the relative benefit of shipping wine by sea, rather than by road. Similar to elsewhere, scope 3 emissions still contribute most to our emissions footprint. The NZ industry can build on our unique advantages to accelerate our transition to a net zero future.
Q: With packaging, what are the thoughts around Bag in Bag options or other formats of pouches or bags? Or the paper bottles being used for spirits in the EU?
A: Bag in Box easily beats glass from a carbon perspective because it is more efficient on a per 0.75L basis, vs lightweight for transport and distribution and typical materials are less intensive than glass. The issue is premium wine not delivered in plastic bags or cardboard boxes, and there is a significant domestic bottling market in NZ which would make it awkward to switch away from.
Q: After cyclone Gabrielle, a lot of the vineyard sites are now threatened and some are deemed not salvable. Apples here in Hawke’s Bay are noticing the prolonged effect of cyclone Gabrielle. Are vineyards looking at a) climate resilient varietals, and b) more resilient sites? Knowing Sauvignon is our bread and butter.
A: The impact of extreme weather events is risk that has been exacerbated by climate change. The Bragato Research Institute has launched a research programme Sauvingnon Blanc 2.0. an ambitious initiative designed to establish a cutting-edge grapevine improvement platform that will produce the next generation of resilient vines at an accelerated pace. The programme runs until early-2030 and completed its third year in 2024. This programme, combined with the potential import of new resistant varieties will help ensure strategic advantages for winegrowers that will help secure New Zealand’s competitive edge in the global wine market in the face of climate change.