The 2021 report “seals“ the first three-year documentation of Guido Berlucchi’s commitment to sustainability, which began as early as the late 1990s, consolidating its national leadership among comparable wineries.
“Sustainability is – first and foremost – a heartfelt and shared vision and the adoption of a positive and virtuous projection of the world of tomorrow, not just the sum of daily actions large and small, carried out to make each company more in tune with the environmental and social context in which it operates”. This is how Arturo Ziliani, CEO and Technical Director of the company, introduces the Sustainability Report for the year 2021: a document that encapsulates the company’s strong commitment to environmental protection and social and economic responsibility.
The sustainability report goes beyond turnover and balance sheet measurements: it considers the social, scientific and environmental impact of the company’s activities. In this context, Guido Berlucchi has decided to finance 2 important scholarships in collaboration with UniBS and UniMI, intended to support the development of 2 young “guardians of tomorrow”, PhD students in Research in the field of “Development of integrated sustainability assessment systems in viticulture” at UniBS and one in “Innovative models for wine market analysis between consumer orientation and sustainability” at UniMI.
The 2021 edition of the Report marks the end of the first three-year period of documentation of the company’s ongoing commitment. Year after year, just like a cuvée, it has developed an exemplary model of governance, thanks to the dedication of multiple stakeholders. It is a journey that has been documented in its entirety since 2019, but which has its origins in the company’s innovative choices and long-term vision since the late 1990s.
In terms of economic impact, in 2021 the company generated a value of € 47.5 million, an increase of 2% compared to the result achieved in 2020, distributing to stakeholders (including employees and suppliers) a total of € 41.0 million (+4.5 % compared to the 2020 figure).
In the last three years, the company has produced an average of around 4 million bottles per year, concentrating 60% of its investments in the region and relying on suppliers based mainly in Lombardy, a short distance from the company headquarters.
This is another way in which Guido Berlucchi is fulfilling its social responsibilities, providing regular contracts to its 142 employees – 107 fixed and 35 seasonal – (with 96% of employees hired on a permanent basis) and a high-quality career path, with 41% female employees.
In addition to this contractual security, there were 1,081 hours of specific and qualified training – with an average of 17 hours/person – a 63% increase compared to the year 2020, in which, despite pandemic-related constraints, the company remained active and productive.
In terms of environmental impact, since 2010 the company has been measuring its carbon footprint using the Ita.Ca.® (Italian Wine Carbon Calculator), which makes it possible to estimate greenhouse gas emissions according to the GHGAP (Greenhouse Gases Accounting Protocol) of the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine).
The Ita.Ca® project has enabled Guido Berlucchi to obtain ISO 14064-2019 certification on its data since 2010, a real example of pioneering work in the field.
Furthermore, 20% of energy is self-generated by the company’s own photovoltaic plant, a plant that the company plans to upgrade to 50% self-generated energy by 2023; and 86% of waste is sent for recycling (319 tonnes in total).
In terms of agricultural practices, the company’s vineyard is certified organic and undertakes many positive practices, (including grassing, green manure, mechanical soil tillage) as well as various Research&Development projects in favour of biodiversity (including the BioPass® project and F.A.Re.Su.BIO).
In addition, the company has developed the Berlucchi Protocol for Sustainable Viticulture (PBVS): a document drawn up independently by Guido Berlucchi that goes beyond regulatory requirements, describing recommended, permitted or prohibited defence, agronomic management and fertilisation practices. The PBVS was drawn up in 2020 to formalise the positive practices that Guido Berlucchi requires of its grape suppliers and will be a crucial element of the contractual relationship in the years to come.
Moreover, to promote biodiversity and protect bees – fundamental inhabitants of our ecosystem with foraging and lookout functions – 50 beehives have been adopted in the Brolo vineyard, Guido Berlucchi’s iconic cru and origin of the Franciacorta Guido Berlucchi ‘Palazzo Lana’ , a true “champion” and ambassador of Franciacorta in every international ranking in the sector.
The full 2021 report is available below… happy reading!