Petition launched calling for wine industry to cut carbon emissions

Big names in the wine industry have launched a petition calling on wine trade associations to cut the sector's carbon emissions.

The petition, started by wine writer Aleesha Hansel, has been signed by the likes of wine critic Jancis Robinson, Rupert Symington of Symington Family Estates, writer Hugh Johnson, president of the Association of Wine Educators Charles Metcalfe, and Swirl Wine Group chief executive Sarah Abbott.

"We must act now, otherwise there may not be an industry left," the petition said. "The production and transportation of glass bottles makes by far the greatest contribution to wine's carbon footprint. The industry needs to face this head on and do what it can to reduce this burden."

The petition, which can be seen here, has called for all tech sheets to include bottle weight to encourage producers to eliminate unnecessarily heavy bottles; for commentators to include bottle weight in their reviews to make it "a standard part of the conversation, and enable consumers to make an informed choice"; and for an effective glass recycling programmes.

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