Yealands named NZ’s Most Sustainable Large Business

Yealands named NZ’s Most Sustainable Large Business

Yealands Estate Wines has been named as the Overall Large Business winner at the Fairfax Sustainable 60 Awards, held in Auckland last night. Yealands also claimed the top prize in the environment category, as recognition for its range of innovative solutions to common industry issues.

Founder and Principal of Yealands Estate Wines, Peter Yealands was humbled to see his company once again recognised as sustainability leader. “This award is particularly significant for us, especially when you look at the prominent New Zealand businesses participating. It shows what can be achieved when you have a strong vision and a great team that buy into that vision,” says Mr Yealands.

“When we opened the winery in 2008, we set the goal of becoming the most sustainable wine producer in the world. Recognition like this reinforces the fact that we are well on our way to accomplishing that vision.”

The Yealands Estate winery was the first in the world to be CarboNZero certified since inception, and is four times more energy efficient than the industry average.

The award winning sustainability initiatives at Yealands include creating energy from burning vine prunings in purpose built boilers, introducing miniature babydoll sheep and kune kune pigs to graze between the vine rows and harnessing both solar and wind energy.

Competition judges referred to the organisation as one going from strength to strength, which had established itself as a creative and ambitious innovator on a range of environmental issues. “Yealands are a company with an innovative approach to environmental sustainability, and to building community engagement – which proves a focus on these aspects are very good for business.”

ENDS

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